It is certainly some increase: between 2011 and 2012 the number of
foreign tourists visiting Myanmar has risen by some 20 per cent. From
816,369 in 2011 the figure has now grown to over one million. “This increase shows that Myanmar has really changed”, said Phyoe Wai Yar Zar
from the Myanmar Marketing Committee at ITB Berlin. Visitor numbers had
originally not been expected to reach this level until 2015.
In some instances the infrastructure in this Southeast Asian country has not kept pace with this development. As the tourism consultant and Myanmar expert Nicole Hausler explained, hotel rates in Yangon doubled or even tripled last year, although this has not been accompanied by any improvement in standards. Each week Yangon is now being served by 210 flights from abroad. Most of them are from within the region, from Thailand, Vietnam, India and China in particular, and there are also direct flights from Doha and Frankfurt.
Wide-ranging and open discussions are taking place about how quickly tourism should be expanded in this country, and the extent of such expansion. As a first step a “Myanmar Tourism Master Plan” is expected to be approved in April this year. If the existing draft plan is actually implemented it will place particular importance on sustainability and social compatibility.
No fewer than 77 new hotels are currently under construction in Myanmar to meet this upsurge in visitor numbers. In addition the authorities responsible for the tourism sector are organising numerous seminars, continuing education and training sessions for travel guides.
source: Travel Daily News
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