MYANMAR has busted its tourism target for 2013 and will aim for three million visitors in 2014, reported the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.
Beween January and December 2013, some two million foreign visitors entered the country via air transport (885,476), water routes (6,086) and through overland checkpoints (1.2 million).
Yangon remains the top gateway to Myanmar as 803,014 travellers, representing a 44.8 per cent year-on-year increase, came through the city. Out of this number, over half hailed from Asia while 157,840 flew in from Europe.
Thailand still accounts for the top source market with 116,126 arrivals, followed by Japan (66,772), South Korea (54,599) and China (54,325). France is the top inbound European country with 33,250 visitors, while the UK takes second place (31,172 ) and Germany, third (25,565).
The number of travellers entering with business visas jumped 32.3 per cent to 151,320, group tours increased 8.3 per cent to total 114,456 tourists, while FIT arrivals rose 25 per cent to 293,648.
Travel professionals are anticipating a 40 per cent rise in tourist arrivals between 2014 and 2015.
However, Aung Myat Kyaw, managing director of Orchestra Travel in Yangon, expressed hope to see a balance in demand and supply (in tourism) and the sustainable development of the industry in the future.
Myanmar began allowing Philippine nationals to enter the country visa-free for up to 14 days on January 4 (TTG Asia e-Daily, January 8, 2014), and entered a mutual visa waiver with Cambodia in December 2013.
