9 December
Tourist arrivals to Mandalay Region reached over 550,000 during the period from January to October this year, with China being the biggest source of visitors, according to the statistics from Directorate of Hotels and Tourism (DOHT), under the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. The total number of international travelers rose around 50,000 when compared to the same period last year. Mandalay Region welcomed 490,000 foreigners in the same period of the previous year.
Most of the foreign visitors came from China, US, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand. Majority of tourists travelled to Mandalay Region by flights, said U San Yu, Assistant Director from the DOHT. “Arrival of Chinese visitors and travellers from some countries that Myanmar has given visa free entry saw a boost significantly,” he said. Arrival of Chinese tourists to Myanmar is up by nearly 70 per cent than previous year thanks to Myanmar’s visa-on-arrival allowance to visitors from six more countries commencing 1 October last year. Due to the sharp inflow of Chinese visitors to Myanmar this year, Myanmar authorities are exerting efforts to further expand travel routes and promote the tourism industry by attracting global airlines to the country.
About 20 international airlines expanded operations in Mandalay Region with new routes. “Now the number of Chinese airlines operating in Mandalay Region has increased to 16. In addition, other domestic airlines expanded flight operations in Mandalay Region. So the number of foreign visitors to Mandalay Region via TadaU International Airport grew by 102 percent when compared to the same period of previous year,” he added.
The regional government is trying its utmost to attract more tourists to the area by organizing international invitational sports events and showcasing cultural heritages and traditional food.
At the same time, the local government has been creating new destinations and ecotourism for globetrotters as well as conducting language proficiency courses and basic tour guide training courses for human resource development.
Myanmar offered visa free entry to Chinese visitors and tourists from some countries in an attempt to promote its tourism industry.
The Southeast Asian country is hoping to reach its target of attracting 7 million tourists by 2020. The local government also carried out conservation work for ancient cultural heritages and efforts to attract more tourists to the region.
The local government is much more interested in promoting the ecotourism in cooperation with private tour operators. In addition, the local government is planning to set up two tourism zones in the region. With the prevalence of peace and stability coupled with a variety of scenic beauties, ancient cultural heritages, and pagodas, tourist arrivals in Mandalay Region is expected to rise this year.
Chinese visitors account for 48 per cent of overall tourist arrivals in Mandalay Region. 385,031 globetrotters toured Mandalay Region in 2016, 483,784 foreigners travelled to the region in 2017 and 492,097 tourists visited the region in 2018.
The local government set a target to receive 500,000 tourists this year but the number of international visitors to the region has surpassed the mark.
By Kyaw Htike Soe
