Only 2.9 million tourists visited Myanmar in 2016

February 6, 2017

Tourist arrival in Myanmar has decreased in 2016, compared with that of the same period last year because the department statistics do not add the number of tourists who visited Myanmar via the border, said U Tint Thwin, Director- General of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

“Myanmar received 4.6 million tourists in 2015. About 2.9 million of tourists visited Myanmar, a 35 per cent drop in 2016 compared to 2015. Decreasing the number of tourists can be attributed to our ministry counting the number including the tourists who entered Myanmar from the border road. Now, The Immigration Department jointly with Central Statistics Department and Central Bank of Myanmar issued accurate number of the tourists,” said U Thit Thwin at a media conference which was held at Myanmar Tourism Federation.

Counting the number of tourists who visited Myanmar with the official visa makes the accurate number. If we count the number of tourists who entered from the border in 2016 will be the same as of tourists 2015, he added. I guess the number of the tourists will decrease in the coming year because there are a few restricted areas in Myanmar. But, we are planning to create new tourist destinations.

Ref, The Global New Light of Myanmar