YANGON (Xinhua): Myanmar, a Southeast Asian nation, has witnessed a remarkable surge in tourist arrivals during the first half of 2023. The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism reports a staggering 484% increase in tourist arrivals compared to the same period in the previous year. If you intend to explore Myanmar, please note that obtaining a Myanmar visa is a mandatory step in ensuring a smooth and legal entry into the country.

Key Figures

• Total Tourist Arrivals: Myanmar welcomed a total of 455,301 tourists in the first half of 2023, marking a significant rise from the 77,943 tourist arrivals recorded during January to June 2022.
• Recent Increase: Since the beginning of 2023, more than 80,000 foreign tourists have entered Myanmar, indicating a robust revival of the tourism sector.
• Visa Types: The Directorate of Hotels and Tourism’s statistics reveal the following distribution of tourists based on visa types:
  • 32,992 with business visas
  • 12,402 with tourist visas
  • 34 with official visas
  • 35,304 with other types of visas
• Monthly Inflows: Tourist arrivals in Myanmar in 2023 were as follows:
  • January and February: 75,401 foreign tourists
  • March: 2,581 tourists
  • April: 2,750 tourists
  • Total for the first four months: 80,732 tourists
• Comparison with 2022: The number of tourist arrivals in the first four months of 2023 closely matches the figures from the same period in 2022.

Future Prospects

Myanmar is poised to continue attracting more tourists in the coming months. This is attributed to the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions for international travelers. Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, U Hla Myint, has expressed optimism about the prospects of the tourism industry in the nation.

Background

In 2022, Myanmar recorded over 230,000 foreign tourists, with a predominant number holding business visas and only approximately 11,000 arriving on tourist visas. These statistics were shared during the 17th Annual General Meeting of the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association on February 25.The surge in tourist arrivals in the first half of 2023 reflects a remarkable recovery and growth in Myanmar’s tourism sector, indicating positive economic prospects for the country.