Monday 30 December 2013

Myanmar close to reaching tourist target for 2013-14

The number of foreign tourists who have visited Myanmar this fiscal year has reached 1.9 million, closing in on the country’s target of two million for 2013-14, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

With 1.9 million foreign tourists entering the country through several gateways by December 25, the two-million mark is quite possible as four months still remain before the fiscal year’s end, said Tint Tun Aung, a director from the ministry.

“The figure is high enough for the expectation to be reached. We are also making preparations to welcome three million visitors in the next fiscal year,” he said.

Most foreign tourists were from Asia, but the number of tourists from Europe and the U.S is also on the rise, according to the ministry.

Yangon and Bagan top the list for the most visited places in the country, and foreign tourist arrivals in Mandalay, Inle, Kyaikhteeyoe and Ngapali Beach have also been increasing these days, said the ministry.

The country’s tourism sector has seen a growth rate of 83 percent over the last four years, receiving foreign investment in the sector, a recent survey by the ministry showed.

The government is also planning to undergo a seven-year tourism project with US$ 500 million (Ks 494 billion) in aid, which will be provided by the Asian Development Bank and Norway. Italy has also offered to help develop Myanmar’s tourism sector.

The ministry also said it would arrange better transportation services in the future for tourists to gain easy and comfortable access to popular tourist destinations such as Putao, Myeik, Narga, Natmauk Taung, Loikaw, Chaungthar and Ngwesaung beaches as well as Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Inle, Kyaikhteeyoe, and Ngapali, which are the most popular.

source: Eleven Myanmar

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