Thursday, 24 May 2012 12:42 Mizzima News
(Mizzima) – About 1,500 tourists are arriving each day in Burma’s four international airports, an increase of about one-third in the past year.
Tourists mainly passed through Rangoon, Naypyitaw, Mandalay and Nyaung Oo international airports, according to an article in the Weekly Eleven News journal. Tourist arrivals are expected to reach 1. 5 million in 2012.
In 2001, there were 364,743 tourist arrivals at Rangoon international airport and a total of 26,433 at Naypyitaw, Mandalay and Nyaung Oo international airports.
According to statistics of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, the number of tourist arrivals amounted to more than 800,000 in 2011, up more than 24,000 or 3 percent from over 790,000 in the same period of 2010.
Earlier this month, Mizzima reported that the government would issue visas-on-arrival and business visas starting June 1 to accommodate businessmen and foreign travelers.
The visa-on-arrival was withdrawn in September 2010 ahead of Burma’s general election in November 2011. Business visa priority will be given to citizens of countries which do business with Myanmar while the visa-on-arrival will be provided to travelers from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said the Yangon Times.
Figures for the first two months of 2012 showed 98,486 arrivals came mainly from North America, West Europe, East Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, according to the Myanmar Tourism Promotion Board.
Government figures also showed that up to February 2012, Burma had a total of 739 hotels including 22 foreign-invested hotels and four joint-venture hotels.
Burma earned US$ 319 million in 2011 from hotel and tourism sector, up 26 percent from $254 million in 2010.
Last week, Mizzima reported that Burma is seeking renewed membership in the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO ), according to UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.
Rifal said UNWTO paid special attention to developing countries because of the strong relationship between tourism and development.
“Tourism may help create jobs, infrastructure, trade, investment – all of these are part of tourism. Burma has tremendous natural and environmental access. It is also located in a region that is booming,” he said.
Rafai said Thein Sein was particularly interested in the issue of educational training and human resource development, asking UNWTO to send an advisory team to assess the curriculum and teaching standards at tourism-focused education institutions.
UNWTO also proposed supporting Burma's bid to get Bagan on the UNESCO World Heritage List. “It’s time to do that, and we must do it very quickly,” said Rafai, adding that the ancient capital was a “fantastic open museum.”
Recently, officials have called for more low and medium-priced hotels and guesthouses. Room rates in top quality hotels have soared in recent months, from around $40 to up to $300 a room. Luxury hotels are usually booked far in advance.
(Mizzima) – About 1,500 tourists are arriving each day in Burma’s four international airports, an increase of about one-third in the past year.
Tourists mainly passed through Rangoon, Naypyitaw, Mandalay and Nyaung Oo international airports, according to an article in the Weekly Eleven News journal. Tourist arrivals are expected to reach 1. 5 million in 2012.
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| Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon is a popular tourist site. Photo: Mizzima |
In 2001, there were 364,743 tourist arrivals at Rangoon international airport and a total of 26,433 at Naypyitaw, Mandalay and Nyaung Oo international airports.
According to statistics of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, the number of tourist arrivals amounted to more than 800,000 in 2011, up more than 24,000 or 3 percent from over 790,000 in the same period of 2010.
Earlier this month, Mizzima reported that the government would issue visas-on-arrival and business visas starting June 1 to accommodate businessmen and foreign travelers.
The visa-on-arrival was withdrawn in September 2010 ahead of Burma’s general election in November 2011. Business visa priority will be given to citizens of countries which do business with Myanmar while the visa-on-arrival will be provided to travelers from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, said the Yangon Times.
Figures for the first two months of 2012 showed 98,486 arrivals came mainly from North America, West Europe, East Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, according to the Myanmar Tourism Promotion Board.
Government figures also showed that up to February 2012, Burma had a total of 739 hotels including 22 foreign-invested hotels and four joint-venture hotels.
Burma earned US$ 319 million in 2011 from hotel and tourism sector, up 26 percent from $254 million in 2010.
Last week, Mizzima reported that Burma is seeking renewed membership in the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO ), according to UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai.
Rifal said UNWTO paid special attention to developing countries because of the strong relationship between tourism and development.
“Tourism may help create jobs, infrastructure, trade, investment – all of these are part of tourism. Burma has tremendous natural and environmental access. It is also located in a region that is booming,” he said.
Rafai said Thein Sein was particularly interested in the issue of educational training and human resource development, asking UNWTO to send an advisory team to assess the curriculum and teaching standards at tourism-focused education institutions.
UNWTO also proposed supporting Burma's bid to get Bagan on the UNESCO World Heritage List. “It’s time to do that, and we must do it very quickly,” said Rafai, adding that the ancient capital was a “fantastic open museum.”
Recently, officials have called for more low and medium-priced hotels and guesthouses. Room rates in top quality hotels have soared in recent months, from around $40 to up to $300 a room. Luxury hotels are usually booked far in advance.
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