Myanmar tourism soars

YANGON  Myanmar’s tourism officials says it is quite possible that the country could host as many as 20.4 million tourists by 2030, but there are conflicting estimates that suggest 7 million would make a more practical target.
At present, tourists arrivals have reached around 3 million a year and the country is straining to cater to the influx. Officials are desperate to maintain quality and not to fall into the “Thailand-style” trap of mass tourism regardless of the cost to culture and lifestyle.
But the prediction of 30 million within the next 15 years will seriously challenge the resolve to concentrate on sustainable tourism.
The Eleven Myanmar said domestic travel is also expected to grow to 29.3 million over the next 15 years putting even more pressure on accommodation and transport.
inside no 2The government bases its estimates on a master plan and many of the policies in the plan are already being implemented to reach the 2030 goals.
However, estimates of Myanmar’s Hotel and Tourism Ministry differ placing the projected number of visitors by 2030 at only 7 million. The master plan was written with the assistance of the Norwegian government and the Asian Development Bank.
Myanmar’s hotel and tourism sector has growth steadily since the country opened its doors to foreign investment in 2011. The hotel and tourism sector has generated USD940 million with 85% of that revenue earned by private firms that control most of the activities in tourism including aviation.
Hotel and Tourism Minister Htay Aung said the ministry expects the country will earn more than USD1 billion from tourism and reach 3 million visits this year.
Last year, there were 2.04 million international tourist arrivals to the country earning USD926 million in tourism income.

sourced:ttrweekly.com