Posts in category: HOTEL & TOURISM

A total of 14 destinations that domestic and foreign tourists should visit on a priority during the
upcoming open season were released on 21 September according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. The ministry has announced the priority travel areas that should be visited to enjoy the historical pagodas and stupas, ancient buildings and the natural beauty of the forest and water in Myanmar, which are famous for their ancient cultural heritage. Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, Ngwesaung, Chaungtha, Ngapali, PyinOoLwin, Inlay, Kalaw-Taunggyi, Kawthoung, Kyaukphyu, Manaung and PutaO are included in the statement. The descriptions of the tourist attractions and travel options for each region of the above destinations can be found on the website of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism namely www. tourism.gov.mm and www.tourisminmyanmar. com.

In addition, there are 38 places to visit in Nay Pyi Taw and 10 EV taxis are running there, according to
the EV Net Taxi. Fares must be paid in kilometres according to the distance travelled. Currently, EVs are
starting to run the townships around Nay Pyi Taw.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar will give Visa on Arrival (VOA) to Chinese and Indian travellers, according to the Ministry of Immigration and Population in Nay Pyi Taw.
Starting from the effective date, the ministry will carry out a one-year trial run of VOA service for Chinese and Indian tourists in line with the COVID-19 rules and regulations.
They can take out VOA applications at International Airports in Myanmar free of charge. They will be charged a visa-on-arrival fee and the application attached with two acceptable photos must be presented. Only a visa on arrival for tourist purposes is permitted so far.
Travellers need to hold a passport with at least six months of validity. They will get deported on the same flight if the passport’s validity is below six months.
They need to abide by the existing laws of Myanmar and they are allowed to visit all sites apart from restricted areas for security concerns.
They can depart through any international exit. The effective date of arrival visa for Chinese and Indian tourists will be announced soon.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism expects international tourists from Russia, China and India in the
upcoming tourism peak season this year. The ministry is joining hands with private businesspersons to
effectuate the development in the tourism sector. The ministry expects arrivals of 150,000-200,000 Russian tourists this season. The ministry is exerting concerted efforts with the stakeholders in the industry to welcome Russian travellers to Myanmar under the “Welcome Russia Programme in Myanmar”.
“There is a promising prospect of tourism development at present. We must accelerate efforts in the
post-COVID-19 pandemic to attract Russians to eye Myanmar as a potential travel destination as Myanmar has strengthened ties with Russia. In addition to Russia, we offer a Visa on Arrival service for Chinese and Indian travellers. We expect an influx of tourist arrivals. We will endeavour to enhance tourism. We are primarily cooperating with the private sector. We are trying to support the stakeholders in the industry engaged in hotel, restaurant and tour agencies,” Union Minister Dr Thet Thet Khine of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism gave a remark at the launching ceremony of the Yangon-Mandalay-Novosibirsk maiden flight held on 5 September.
Myanmar-Russia direct aviation connectivity will surely promote tourism. It will also bring about
business opportunities for those engaged in the tourism sector as high tourism season is approaching, she added. Besides the current Yangon-Mandalay-Novosibirsk direct flight, Myanmar Airways International will expand its wings to St Petersburg, Moscow and other 11 cities in China including Beijing by long-haul flights using Airbus A330.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

The MAI launched the Yangon-Mandalay-Novosibirsk-Mandalay-Yangon flight on 5 September ensuring the essential connectivity between the Russian Federation and Myanmar, and the flight landed in Yangon successfully yesterday morning.
The MAI flight left for Russia at 2:05 pm on 5 September from Yangon International Airport and headed to Novosibirsk in Russia from Mandalay. Before the departure to Russia, the relevant officials of Mandalay Region cordially met flight passengers and had commemorative photos taken with them at Mandalay International Airport.
To strengthen the bilateral relationship between the two countries, the two governments, departmental officials, tourism industries and travel and tour companies should promote their tourism industries with their existing cultural heritage, picturesque scenes and beaches.
Moreover, the MAI launched the new flight not just for the profits but for aiming to facilitate the trade flows of the two countries, economy, hotels and tourism industries, health and other services for the people of the two countries.
The Myanmar-Russia direct flight will operate twice a week every Tuesday and Saturday. Myanmar travellers can visit the territory of the Russian Federation including its city Moscow from Novosibirsk with Russia’s S7 airlines. Similarly, Russian travellers can visit Myanmar and ASEAN countries where the MAI operates its flights.
Besides the current new flight, the MAI will fly to Moscow, and St Petersburg in Russia soon with flights like Airbus A330 and long-haul flights. Moreover, it also arranged to expand operations to 11 cities including Beijing in China.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

In the seven months from January to July 2023, the tourist destinations in the Bago Region attracted 146,880 local and foreign visitors, including Thai tourists, U Tin Oo, Economic Minister of Bago Region government told the Global New Light of Myanmar yesterday.
The popular tourist sites in the region are Shwemawdaw Pagoda, Shwethalyaung reclining Buddha Image, Hinthagon Pagoda, Kyaikpun Pagoda, and Kanbawzathadi Palace in the eastern Bago Region and Shwesandaw Pagoda, Shwemyethman Pagoda, Shwebonthamuni Pagoda, and Akauk Hill in the western Bago region. Visitors to the aforementioned locations increased this year compared to the same period last year.
“The seven-month period from January to July this year saw 140,110 homegrown tourists and 6,770 overseas tourists totalling 146,880, and it is 27,290 more than last year’s same period of 119,590,” U Tin Oo said.
The region saw 35 package tours that accounted for 532 visitors in the seven months.
During three weeks of August alone the region has seen a total of 28 package tours (582 visitors), he said.
The majority of overseas tourists visiting the Bago Region are from Thailand and many of them visit Shwemawdaw Pagoda, Shwethalyaung reclining Buddha Image and Kanbawzathadi Palace.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

The board of trustees of the Great Kyaiktiyo Pagoda in Mon State stated that 4,638 foreign tourists and 157,574 domestic tourists visited the pagoda from January to July this year.
According to the list of the board of trustees, the pagoda accepted 450,000 visitors in the last pilgrimage season, although hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visit each year. The period for the festival of the Great Kyaiktiyo Pagoda was set for seven months, starting on the full moon day of Thadingyut till the full moon day of Kason (Buddha day), and pilgrims are allowed to visit throughout the year.
Visitors are entering from the country and abroad during the festival season, especially from neighbouring Thailand. As part of the rainy season special promotion, the Yoe Yoe Lay Express will provide the Kyaikto-Yangon-Kyaikto trip three times a day for free for the convenience of transportation for those who visit Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, saving the cost of the pilgrimage for visitors.
Although it is a rainy season, hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, and stalls near the square of the pagoda are open as usual, and truck services are also running regularly for devotees. 

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Thai Airways International launches flights connecting with the Yangon International Airport.
The Bangkok-Yangon flights by Airbus A320 started on 16 July and the flight aims to promote the services in travelling between Thailand and Myanmar.
The Yangon-Bangkok flights will be operated 14 times a week and the Bangkok-Yangon-Bangkok flight will depart at 9:35 am (local time) and arrive in Yangon at 10:35 am.
Additionally, it will depart from Yangon at 11:25 am and arrive in Bangkok at 1:25 pm (local time). It has also been reported that the round-trip flights between Bangkok and Yangon will be extended from 5 pm to 9 pm.
Currently, there are four round-trip airlines from Yangon to Bangkok, Thailand, with about 1,000 passengers. 

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

The tourism industry is a lucrative sector that generates income through the provision of services to both local and foreign travellers. However, this industry is not immune to various challenges such as pandemics, financial crises, natural disasters, and terror attacks, all of which can have a significant impact on its operations. The success of businesses in the tourism industry hinges on their ability to overcome these obstacles.
The Covid-19 pandemic, which erupted in 2020 and persisted into 2021, had a profound effect on the tourism industry worldwide, including in Myanmar. The pandemic resulted in the suspension of international flights and imposed restrictions on the tourism sector. However, as the infection rate declined from April 2022, international flights gradually resumed, allowing Myanmar to welcome foreign travellers under Covid-19 protocols. This contributed to the revival of the tourism industry in the country. In 2022, more than 230,000 foreign travellers visited Myanmar, although this figure remains lower than that of neighbouring countries.
Local authorities are facilitating the smooth entry and exit of travellers, adopting measures similar to those implemented by neighbouring countries. The government has taken steps to simplify the e-Visa process and has introduced tourist incentive plans, such as special discount programs and tax refund schemes, to enhance tourism services. Additionally, attractive tourist sites must be promoted through online platforms and digital marketing.
Myanmar boasts a wealth of outstanding tourist destinations, including religious landmarks, natural caves and waterfalls, resorts and beaches, ancient cultural heritage sites, and the diverse costumes and customs of its ethnic communities. These remarkable attractions have the potential to captivate the interest of domestic and international travellers alike.
To further promote tourism in Myanmar, it is essential to host tourism shows, trade expos, and relevant fairs that will enable international media to explore the diverse tourism services and potential travel destinations in the country. Collaboration between tourism companies and marketing agencies is crucial. Moreover, efforts should be made to ensure smooth transportation for travellers, encompassing aviation services, road transport, and waterway transport. Providing safe and secure transportation options will undoubtedly leave a positive impression on visitors.
In the near future, Yangon will host the Let’s Go VACS Yangon Travel Fair 2023, with the participation of travel writers and media representatives from Russia. This event presents an excellent opportunity for Myanmar’s tourism entrepreneurs to enhance their services, generate income, and enhance the country’s image on the international stage. By leveraging its unique tourist destinations, organizing promotional events, and ensuring seamless transportation, Myanmar can position itself as an attractive and safe destination for travellers worldwide.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar Airways International slated to extend the Yangon-Singapore-Yangon route on 16 July. This extension is in response to the growing number of Singaporean visitors to Myanmar.
Previously, the flights operated six days a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and starting from 29 May, they were extended to include Mondays and Wednesdays. Now, MAI enlisted Sunday on the flight schedules.
Departure from Yangon International Airport is at 8.20 pm and arrival in Singapore is 12.50 pm local time). The return flight departs from Singapore at 1.50 pm local time and arrives back in Yangon at 3.20 pm.
According to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar has admitted visits of over 400,000 tourists from January to May 2023, most of whom came from Singapore.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar

According to the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar welcomes the highest number of tourists from Thailand, Viet Nam, and Mexico primarily through the Yangon International Airport. From March to May 2023, a total of 2,695 foreign tourists arrived in Myanmar via this airport, as stated by the report.
The majority of visitors originated from Thailand, Viet Nam, and Mexico, with additional tourists hailing from countries such as Indonesia, Spain, the United States, and the United Kingdom, among others.
The statistics reveal that 822 foreigners visited Myanmar in March, followed by 612 in April, and 1,261 in May. This data demonstrates the steady influx of tourists to the country during this period.

Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar