Tourism in Myanmar (also known as Burma) is a developing sector. As at 2023, new tourist visa applications resume.[1] Although Myanmar possesses tourist potential, much of the industry remains to be developed. The number of visitors to Burma is small compared to its neighbouring countries. This is primarily due to its political situation. However, after the junta transferred power to the civilian government, the tourism sector saw an increase in tourism arrivals, and in 2012, tourist arrivals surpassed the one million mark for the first time. In 2013, the Tourism Master Plan was created, targeting 7.5 million arrivals by 2020.[2]
Tourism has been developed mainly by Myanmar's government, which has encouraged tourism since 1992. Private enterprises also exist, catering to a wide range of tourists.
In 2010, 791,505 foreign tourists visited Myanmar, with 295,174 foreign tourists entering the country via Yangon International Airport.[3] By 2012, more than 1 million foreign tourists visited Myanmar. In 2013, the number of foreign arrivals reached more than 2.04 million, counting both air and overland arrivals.[2]
Tourism has been promoted by advocacy groups as a method of providing economic benefit to Burmese civilians, and to avoid isolating the country from the rest of the world. Voices for Burma, a pro-democracy advocate group, states, "We believe that small-scale, responsible tourism can create more benefits than harm. So long as tourists are fully aware of the situation and take steps to maximise their positive impact and minimise the negatives, we feel their visit can be beneficial overall. Responsible tourists can help Burma primarily by bringing money to local communities and small businesses, and by raising awareness of the situation worldwide."[4]
A former Burmese tourism minister estimated that 12% of the government revenues are derived from tourism, with the tourism industry contributing US$182 million (2007) to the government's annual budget.[5]
In March 2020, Myanmar has closed its borders to international tourists as a measure to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] [7] Furthermore, following the 2021 coup, the country became increasingly isolated. Large-scale protests and escalating acts of violence have inflicted significant damage upon Myanmar's economy, including the tourism sector, which has been pushed into a state of decline.[8] [9] [10]
The country reopened to international flights on April 17, 2022, given the decrease in infection cases and the reopening of neighboring countries. In a statement issued by the committee, the decision to reopen aims to boost the tourism sector and provide favorable conditions for visitors to come and explore Myanmar.[11] [12] [13]
In the 2010–2011 fiscal year, tourists comprised 73.84% (313,127 arrivals) of overseas visitors, primarily entering the country by air, representing 69.26% of arrivals, followed by land and sea, which represented 29.97% and 0.77% of arrivals respectively.[14] An additional 110,914 visitors arrived through other visa types and represented an additional 26.16% of the total.[14] In 2012, revenues from tourism jumped to over $534 million in 2012, up from $315 million in 2011.[15] [16]
Recent data reveals that in 2016, Myanmar welcomed only 2.9 million tourists, marking a 38% decrease compared to the previous year (4.7 million visitors in 2015).[17] According to Rogers, the rosy projections about tourism potential led to significant investments in hotel construction. Data from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism indicates that within a span of five years (up until 2015), 1,300 hotels were built in Myanmar, with foreign businesses collectively investing $2.7 billion in hotel ventures.[18] [19] [20]
International tourist arrivals to Yangon Entry Point, Mandalay & Bagan Gateways, Nay Pyi Taw Gateway and Border Tourism.[21]
| Year | Tourist arrivals | % Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 233,487 | 78% | |
| 2021 | 130,947 | 86% | |
| 2020 | 903,343 | 79% | |
| 2019 | 4,346,101 | 22% | |
| 2018 | 3,551,428 | 3% | |
| 2017 | 3,443,133 | 18% | |
| 2016 | 2,907,207 | 38% | |
| 2015 | 4,681,020 | 52% | |
| 2014 | 3,081,412 | 51% | |
| 2013 | 2,044,307 | 93% | |
| 2012 | 1,058,995 | 30% | |
| 2011 | 816,369 | 3% | |
| 2010 | 791,505 | 4% | |
| 2009 | 762,547 | 4% | |
| 2008 | 731,230 | 2% |
The governmental statistics body, the Central Statistical Organization, reported more than 3,000,000 travellers flocked to Myanmar in 2014, compared with approximately 816,000 visitors in 2011. Among these, 1,022,081 tourist arrivals (excluding visitors under special entry visas such as social or business visas) were via Yangon International Airport.[22] [23]
Most visitors arriving to Myanmar on short-term basis were from the following countries of nationality:[24]
| Country | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 749,719 | 333,085 | 212,642 | 183,886 | 147,977 | 125,609 | 90,550 | 70,805 | 62,018 | ||
| 273,157 | 291,231 | 273,889 | 243,443 | 204,539 | 198,229 | 139,770 | 94,342 | 61,696 | ||
| 125,706 | 104,376 | 101,484 | 100,084 | 90,312 | 83,434 | 68,671 | 47,690 | 21,321 | ||
| 111,794 | 72,852 | 65,829 | 64,397 | 63,715 | 58,472 | 54,934 | 34,805 | 22,524 | ||
| 66,757 | 65,057 | 73,085 | 76,502 | 69,015 | 62,631 | 53,653 | 37,589 | 21,680 | ||
| 57,890 | 58,657 | 61,859 | 50,198 | 45,125 | 47,692 | 39,140 | 26,296 | 15,391 | ||
| 52,567 | 53,329 | 58,919 | 48,869 | |||||||
| 44,703 | 47,632 | 47,010 | 43,931 | 40,852 | 46,534 | 39,758 | 30,499 | 23,287 | ||
| 48,400 | 43,281 | 41,623 | 38,537 | 34,638 | 32,306 | 21,042 | 16,868 | 12,318 | ||
| 42,508 | 43,218 | 58,369 | 52,304 | 47,235 | 41,453 | 35,462 | 30,064 | 19,414 | ||
| 33,857 | 36,609 | 47,717 | 51,051 | 45,120 | 40,921 | 33,203 | 24,296 | 11,056 | ||
| 29,447 | 28,838 | 39,952 | 39,044 | 35,727 | 32,265 | 27,712 | 23,063 | 14,006 | ||
| 25,867 | 27,962 | 32,628 | 34,010 | 30,820 | 29,175 | 11,728 | 18,261 | 10,415 | ||
| 19,121 | 16,855 | 18,242 | 17,969 | 14,821 | 12,613 | 11,728 | 10,830 | 9,710 | ||
| 17,398 | 16,748 | 18,143 | 16,421 | |||||||
| 13,589 | 11,315 | 13,558 | 12,765 | |||||||
| 11,050 | 11,065 | 14,068 | 15,024 | 14,051 | 12,268 | 8,975 | 6,485 | 3,685 | ||
| 9,257 | 10,019 | 13,558 | 13,694 | 13,897 | ||||||
| 9,500 | 9,428 | 13,950 | ||||||||
| 32,005 | 7,183 | |||||||||
| 39,374 | 35,685 |
The most popular available tourist destinations in Myanmar include big cities such as Yangon and Mandalay; religious sites in Mon State, Pindaya, Bago and Hpa-An; nature trails in Inle Lake, Kalaw, Kengtung, Putao, Pyin Oo Lwin, also known as Maymyo; ancient cities such as Bagan and Mrauk-U; as well as beaches in Nabule Ngapali, Maungmagan Ngwe-Saung, Mergui.[25]