A total of 22,773 domestic and foreign tourists visited beach resorts in Ayeyawady Region during the New Year holiday period in early 2026, according to the Ayeyawady Region Directorate of Hotels and Tourism.
During the holiday period from 1 to 4 January, tourists travelled to the region’s main beach destinations – Ngwehsaung, Chaungtha, Shwethaungyan and Goyangyi Island. Ngwehsaung received 12,293 domestic tourists and 395 foreign tourists, while Chaungtha welcomed 9,488 domestic tourists and 37 foreign tourists. Shwethaungyan recorded 509 domestic tourists and 19 foreign tourists, and Goyangyi Island received 32 domestic tourists. In total, 22,773 tourists visited the four beach destinations.
In 2025, Ayeyawady Region recorded 1,521,619 visitors, comprising 1,502,663 domestic tourists and 18,956 foreign tourists. With strong tourist arrivals at the start of the New Year, tourism operators and business owners estimate that visitor numbers this year could exceed those of last year.
To accommodate both domestic and foreign visitors, beach resorts across the region provided extensive accommodation facilities. At the Ngwehsaung Beach, 38 hotels and 70 guesthouses were in operation. The Chaungtha Beach had 32 hotels and resorts and 55 guesthouses, while the Shwethaungyan Beach offered six hotels and three guesthouses. In Pathein and other areas, a further 49 hotels and resorts and 315 guesthouses were also open to visitors.
“The New Year holiday brought 22,773 domestic and foreign tourists to four beach destinations in Ayeyawady Region,” said U Aung Thu Oo, Director of the Ayeyawady Region Directorate of Hotels and Tourism. “The increase in tourist arrivals created job opportunities for residents. Local products, restaurants and tourism-related businesses enjoyed high income, and trading activity along travel routes was also lively. We are pleased that this has contributed to departmental revenue.”
During the extended New Year holiday, foreign tourists from 13 countries visited beach resorts in Ayeyawady Region. According to the department, visitors from China, Russia, India and Thailand accounted for the largest numbers. — Nyein Thu (MNA)/KZL
