Myanmar’s tourism data challenged

YANGON  Myanmar Tourism Marketing Committee urged the government, Monday, to speed up the delivery of accurate tourist arrivals data and to create a useful market database for tourism operators.
Myanmar Times quoted the committee chairman, U Phyo Wai Yar Zar, saying the government should introduce a data collection system to ensure that is accurate and can be used to assist the industry to focus its marketing efforts.
“It’s important for tour operators to have the accurate data so they can work to improve the industry. The government needs to take the lead and implement a better system than just a head count.”
He added: “We need relevant figures from the immigration ministry, and we need more details of market segmentation and where tourists are coming from. We can use this data to calculate the potential of each tourist market.”
inside no 3The immigration ministry collects data on all arrivals, but the system to clarify who are tourists, or business visitors is not in place.
According to Ministry of Immigration and Population, the tourism ministry counts day-trippers on border passes, which is contrary to the international definition of a tourist ( overnight stays).
According to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, foreign visitors entering Myanmar, so far this year, reached 2.5 million in mid-August, putting it only slightly off the pace to reach, the ministry’s target of 4.5 million by year-end.
Last year, the country attracted 3.08 million international tourist arrivals, an increase of 50.73% from 2.04 million visits in 2013.
However, industry comments that the ministry is counting day visitors would cast doubt on the accuracy of the figures supplied on so-called genuine tourists.

tourced:ttrweekly.com