Tourism in Burma - articles and studies

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Websites/Multiple Documents

Description: About 189,000 results (August 2017)
Source/publisher: Various sources via Youtube
Date of entry/update: 2017-08-24
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
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Description: Industry assessment of tourism in Burma - * Price Competitiveness; * Human Tourism; * Infrastructure; * Environment; * Technology; * Human Resources; * Openness; * Social... By most counts, Burma ranks close to the bottom in a country comparison.
Source/publisher: World Travel and Tourism Council
Date of entry/update: 2005-05-06
Grouping: Websites/Multiple Documents
Language: English
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Individual Documents

Sub-title: Travel agents and aid workers raise issues of safety and note that tourism dollars will only benefit the ruling military
Description: "Foreign tourists have been urged to avoid visiting Myanmar after the junta signalled plans to open up the country despite widespread ongoing rights abuses and violence including kidnappings and killings by the military, as well as food shortages and regular blackouts. More than a year after it seized power and ousted Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s military has announced it plans to reopen for tourism and resume international flights on 17 April. “I would not suggest anyone travels there,” said Michael Isherwood, chair of the Burma Humanitarian Mission and program director of charity Backpack Medics. “If Burma reopens to tourists, it’s primarily to benefit the junta,” which is oppressing the population. When there were murmurs of a reopening late last year, Tin Tun Naing, the minister for planning, finance and investment for Myanmar’s ousted National Unity Government told The Straits Times it wasn’t a time for sightseeing and urged people not to visit. Myanmar closed its borders, like many countries, to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in early 2020. At that time, an elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi ruled the country but a military coup in February 2021 saw that power ceded. Resistance groups emerged and since then the south-east Asian country has been racked with violence, protests and economic collapse. UN high commissioner Michelle Bachelet said last month Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis continues to expand amid systematic brutality by security forces. “The economy is on the brink of collapse. Over 14.4 million individuals are now assessed as being in humanitarian need,” she said, predicting that “food scarcity will sharply increase over the coming months”. The UK government currently “advises against all but essential travel to Myanmar”, stating the risk of being arbitrarily detained or arrested. Opening to tourism could signal a return to normalcy when “Burma is anything but normal these days,” said Isherwood, citing random arrests, the burning of villages, rape and extrajudicial killings in the ethnic and border areas. According to the United Nations Human Rights Council, more than 1,600 people have died at the hands of security forces, 12,500 have been detained, 44,000 have been displaced, and 14 million require humanitarian assistance. Hundreds of children are also being held for ransom in unknown locations. Last year, the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) attempted to broker a peace plan with the junta government although little progress has been made on moving that forward. Reopening to tourism was “an effort to promote a narrative of control and globalisation … an effort to establish the de facto authorities as being in control of the country, being legitimate”, said one aid worker living in Myanmar, who requested anonymity for safety reasons. Tourists signify stability, said Bertie Alexander Lawson, CEO of Myanmar-based boutique travel agency Sampan Travel, and an image of stability is likely one the authorities want to project, he added. The security risk is higher now compared with a couple of years ago, said Lawson, but safe travel was possible “if you’re going with an operator that is taking the risk seriously”. Visitors should, however, be informed of the context they’re coming into and calculate whether they’re going to have a positive impact on Myanmar communities, he said. Jochen Meissner, founder and director of Yangon-based travel agency Uncharted Horizons Myanmar, advised against travel. “Even here [in Yangon], every day there are bomb attacks or assassinations, [and] a lot of army on the streets.” While the junta government will likely make sure the main tourist attractions are safe, Meissner said he wouldn’t encourage anyone to visit for a holiday. Only those vaccinated against Covid-19 will be able to enter the country before having to do a week-long quarantine with two PCR tests. Other challenges tourists will face include a lack of access to cash, following the buckling of the banking system, and power blackouts. “There are big parts of Yangon that are in total darkness on an evening so I’m not sure it’ll be very conducive for tourist travel,” said the aid worker. Some parts of the country, including Kayah state and Chin state, formerly popular with tourists, will also be off limits, Lawson said. In such areas, there are reports of worsening living conditions with limited water, electricity, and internet access. Meissner said: “Everything is not OK here.”..."
Source/publisher: "The Guardian" (UK)
2022-04-04
Date of entry/update: 2022-04-04
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Description: "As multiple Southeast Asia countries begin to ease travel restrictions, Myanmar, which boasts some of the region's most spectacular destinations, has announced that it hopes to begin welcoming international tourists in early 2022. While this might seem like great news for travelers planning their post-lockdown trips, in Myanmar, it's complicated. Most nations that closed their borders over the past two years did so solely to prevent the spread of Covid-19, but Myanmar is also still dealing with the aftereffects of a February 2021 coup in which a military junta overthrew the country's democratically elected government. Visiting Myanmar, which has previously spent decades under military rule, has always presented dilemmas for travelers weighing up whether their trip will support what has in the past been labeled an oppressive regime, or will help locals who need outside lifelines. The question is now, with Covid still an issue across the region and the wider world of travel, plus the turmoil currently gripping the country, will anyone come? Officials have already set up a website, anticipating tourist interest, but have made it clear that any opening will be subject to successful Covid mitigation being in place. "We are planning to reopen tourism for vaccinated tourists if plans are well-prepared for safe and convenient travel," Zeyar Htun, deputy director of the Public Relations and Information Department at the military-run Ministry of Hotels & Tourism, confirmed to CNN Travel. Meanwhile, some international travelers are being warned by their own governments to stay away, due to both Covid concerns and instability in the wake of the coup. The US State Department currently has two level four "do not visit" alerts for Burma, as it refers to Myanmar, one for its high number of coronavirus cases, and one for the ongoing political situation. In a separate advisory, it notes "Burma is facing a grave political, economic, human rights and humanitarian crisis due to a brutal crackdown by a powerful military that acts with impunity." Religious significance Details on reopening plans on Myanmar's official tourism website are thin at the moment, but reports have suggested the government will initially target visitors from Southeast Asia. Beyond international vacationers, there are other travelers who will be keen to enter Myanmar as soon as it's feasible to do so. There are people of Burmese heritage who want to reconnect with family, Buddhists eager to see some of the country's sacred temples and businesspeople who need to check on factories and other projects. "There's always been a relationship, especially in that part of the Buddhist world, with Thailand, Laos and parts of Cambodia, where there are religious capitals that are important in the religious calendar," explains Tyler Dillon, a travel planner for high-end company Trufflepig and a longtime leader of tours in the region. The Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, for instance, is the most important Buddhist site in Myanmar. The bright gold, 100-foot-tall structure is home to several sacred Buddhist relics, including eight strands of hair said to be from Buddha's head. As a result, it's a popular spot for Buddhist pilgrims from around the world. Myanmar's military junta will be particularly eager to see the return of wealthy visitors from China, it's most important ally and investor. China has long nurtured ties with Myanmar even while other countries have imposed sanctions. The country is a strategic part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's "Belt and Road" initiative aimed at building regional trade and expanding China's global influence. Blackouts and closures When Myanmar's doors do open, travelers returning to the country will notice major changes since their last visit. According to CNN sources on the ground, infrastructure has been significantly weakened, many businesses have closed due to economic pressure or owners leaving the country, and the tourism industry is now being run by military generals. Dillon says his contacts in Myanmar tell him of intermittent blackouts and occasional internet shutdowns, which can make it difficult to stay in touch with people outside of the country. International brands are among those affected. The Kempinski Hotel Nay Pyi Taw Myanmar, a luxury five-star facility in the country's capital is, according to its website, closed for "the foreseeable future" from mid-October. It didn't specify why it was shuttering. Pandaw, a Southeast Asia river cruising company specializing in Mekong River tours, announced it was permanently closing operations in Myanmar and the wider region after more than 25 years of operation, blaming both Covid and "the critical political situation in Myanmar." Risk factor International travelers who do decide to visit Myanmar should make sure they are prepared for contingencies, says Todd Handcock, who as Asia Pacific president of Collinson International advises corporate clients on traveling safely and managing risk. "Unfortunately, Myanmar is now considered to be a higher risk zone," he says. Any company thinking of sending staff to Myanmar should have a "robust travel risk management program" in place, he says. Employees should be fully briefed on what they need to know and how to react when trouble rears its head. He also stresses that it's important for those in any country beset by trouble to send reassurances home to make it clear they're safe when bad news is being reported. "I continuously send (my family) photos of what was going on around me," he says. "If you've got loved ones that are concerned, then do take that extra step as the traveler to make sure that they're aware." 'Backdoor diplomacy' As in the past when Myanmar has been in the control of a military junta, there have been calls both from within and without the country to boycott anything that would profit the military -- including the many tourism facilities and destinations its generals control. Andrea Valentin, a former adviser on responsible tourism in Myanmar, says the issue is complicated. "It's a bit frivolous to discuss tourism in Myanmar right now, despite all tone deaf attempts of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism to pretend otherwise," she says. "It is not simple black and white anymore. It's not North Korea yet." Valentin says that it is still possible to travel in a way that doesn't help fund the military regime, although it's difficult and most businesses are in more rural areas. "Yes, it is still possible to travel responsibly in Myanmar at the minute. There are quite a few places that are even now quite safe and ethical. Before the coup, staying in accommodation that's not owned by the military was definitely possible. "There are a few amazing initiatives -- which we painstakingly helped build over the last years -- and those deserve our support." She adds: "We don't believe in a tourism boycott." Though travel planner Dillon isn't leading any Myanmar trips for the foreseeable future, he refuses to write the country off entirely either. "Tourism is backdoor diplomacy," he says. "There's still a lot of hope for people on the ground there that things can change."..."
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Source/publisher: CNN Travel
2021-11-09
Date of entry/update: 2021-11-09
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Sub-title: The latest instalment in our series about wild swimming spots focuses on little-visited Ye in southern Mon State, where we discover shipwrecks, deserted beaches and technicolour sunsets.
Description: "Ye is very much a victim of its location. Sandwiched between the Mon State capital Mawlamyine and beach magnet Dawei, and with no airport to connect it to the rest of the country, Ye receives just a fraction of the tourist numbers it deserves. But rest assured ­– it really does have it all. If winding rivers, jungle-buried waterfalls, island boat trips and endless stretches of untouched coastline are your thing, then Ye is definitely the place for you. Note to readers: Frontier does not encourage non-essential travel within Myanmar at this time, when the country faces the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak. People infected with the virus may show no symptoms, and travel risks spreading it to communities with limited access to healthcare. This article is for those who plan to travel after this risk subsides, when responsible tourism could aid the country’s economic recovery..."
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Source/publisher: "Frontier Myanmar"
2020-04-28
Date of entry/update: 2020-04-28
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Description: "A court dealt a blow on Friday to a man who claims to be the rightful owner of a historic building in downtown Yangon, rejecting his request to make the local government a defendant in the case. Bilal Ayub Munnee, who says his great grandfather was the building’s original owner, wanted Yangon’s government to share responsibility with the company that renovated the Tourist Burma Building. If the judge had ruled in his favour the local authority would have had to share the cost of 5bn kyat - roughly $3.4m - compensation in the event that Bilal won his case. He is suing the Yangon Metropolitan Development Public Company (YMDP) after it went ahead with a 192m kyat renovation at the building against his wishes between 2017 and 2019. As well as compensation, Bilal is seeking ownership rights. He claims the building still belongs to a trust his family established nearly a century ago. In January, after the YMDP said in its defence that the renovations were ordered by the regional government, Bilal asked the court to name the regional government as a co-defendant. The regional government owns a majority share in YMDP. But the court rejected the request on the grounds that Bilal’s legal team did not give notice to the government two months in advance, as prescribed by the Code of Civil Procedure..."
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Source/publisher: "Myanmar Now" (Myanmar)
2020-02-29
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-29
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Description: "Industry analysts claim interest will return to Myanmar’s tourism sector after some challenges including the Rakhine crisis and the downswing due to the coronavirus, according to Skift.com. “We foresee an improvement in the next high season [October 2020 to March 2021] now that the ICJ [International Court of Justice] had concluded its findings,” said Jehan Wick, who has been in Myanmar since 1997 and now runs his company, JW Hospitality Management. “This improved sentiment was [noticed] by most operators since the World Travel Market [in London] in November.” Changes are taking place. Khiri Travel Group, an inbound agency handling Western clients in Asia with an office in Myanmar, said bookings rebounded from countries such as the UK, Netherlands, and Scandinavia after the ICJ ruling..."
Source/publisher: "Mizzima" (Myanmar)
2020-02-24
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-24
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Sub-title: Countries have closed off their borders with China, airlines have slashed flights, and hotels have seen a big drop-off in bookings.
Description: "Last month, on January 19, Myanmar’s state-run newspaper left no question as to what was the biggest story of the day. The paper carried page after page of dry reports documenting the movements and meetings of visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping. Inside were photos of Xi and Myanmar’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, sitting in gilded chairs behind a table draped in red, yellow, and green fabric, the colors of Myanmar’s flag. A parade of officials had taken turns posing in front of them, clutching red folios that each contained one of the dozens of freshly signed agreements between the two countries. The visit marked the start of the “Myanmar-China Bilateral Cultural and Tourism Year.” Buried inside the same edition of the paper was a single article, plucked from the AFP newswire, detailing alarm by medical experts in London over the spread of a “mysterious SARS-like virus in China” and warning that the scale of the outbreak was “likely far bigger than officially reported.” Of the two stories, this is the one proving to be more important to Myanmar, Southeast Asia, and the world. The illness, now officially labeled COVID-19, has raced across the globe, infecting tens of thousands of people and killing more than 2,000, predominantly in China. Countries have closed their borders to Chinese travelers; airlines have slashed flights and limited routes. Points of transit across Asia—train stations, bus depots, airports—have seen traffic plummet, and some are nearly deserted. Leaders in Beijing are undertaking a sprawling lockdown and quarantine on a scale that is difficult to comprehend. The impact on the global economy is still yet to be fully understood..."
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Source/publisher: "The Atlantic" (Boston)
2020-02-19
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-20
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Sub-title: A local bus company and an Indian tour company will start offering bus service between Mandalay and Imphal city in India in April, a local company executive said.
Description: "U Nay Lin Oo, an executive of Shwe Mandalar Express Co Ltd, said the 14-hour trip is made possible by a partnership with India’s Seven Sister Holidays Co Ltd. The agreement between the two companies was signed on Friday, he added, and the inaugural trip is set for April 7. "We have been working on this route since 2018 when the border gate opened,” he said. “It took a long time to make this come true, as immigration and customs had to be negotiated.“A memorandum of understanding was signed after visits by the presidents of both countries," he added. The opening of bus service between the two countries aims to promote tourism and visits between people of the two cities. Mandalay, the second largest city in Myanmar, is famous for the Bagan pagodas and natural attractions. Imphal, the capital of the north-eastern Indian state of Manipur, is an ancient city and the seat of the former Kingdom of Manipur. U Nay Lin Oo said 27-seat first-class buses will be used for the inaugural trip. Shwe Mandalar Express will provide service from Mandalay to the border town of Tamu in Chin State, and Seven Sister Holidays will provide service from Tamu to Moreh and Imphal..."
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Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2020-02-17
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-18
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Description: "A new sustainable lodge is aiming to lure more longhaul travellers to Myanmar’s untouched coastline, while giving back to the community. Lalay Lodge opened its doors in January in the remote fishing village of Maung Shwe Lay in Rakhine State, offering visitors a slice of tropical beach paradise combined with a glimpse into authentic rural Burmese life. In line with the values of conscious travellers, the nine-room resort was designed by Australian architect, Mary Lou Thompson, using natural, locally-sourced materials to blend in with its surroundings. All 15 staff have been recruited from the village and undergone hospitality training. They are headed by an English-speaking general manager, who is also the only foreign employee. As part of its sustainable pledge, the lodge has launched a coral reef protection programme and set up a waste collection system for the 1,500 villagers. It also uses solar power and no single-use plastic, and reuses grey water. Edwin Briels, Lalay Lodge co-owner, said: “Involving communities is what tourism should be all about.” Briels, who is also managing director of Khiri Travel Myanmar, has been organising day trips to the village, which sits a combined one-hour tuk tuk and boat cruise from Thandwe (Ngapali) airport, for the last seven years..."
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Source/publisher: TTG Asia
2020-02-14
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-15
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Description: "Myanmar has ranked highest among the world’s 20 quickest-growing travel destinations over the past 12 months. The report from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. Vietnam and The Philippines are also regional winners over the past year that made it into the top 10 best performing emerging travel destinations. Myanmar Tourism Marketing, part of the Myanmar Tourism Federation, reports that the country enjoyed a year-on-year increase of 40.2% in tourism. Puerto Rico had a 31.2% rise and Iran at 27.9%. Also in the top 10 were Vietnam and The Philippines, ranked as the 7th and 8th top performing countries for 2019. May Myat Mon Win, Myanmar’s Tourism Marketing chairperson says they are trying to maintain the growth. “We need to keep this momentum going for many more years,”. The Burmese government has introduced new regulations to facilitate easier access for tourists as a next step to open Myanmar up to the world. Myanmar grants residents of Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau and some Southeast Asian countries visa-free entry. People from India, the Chinese mainland, Australia, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Russia, Spain and Switzerland are granted visas on arrival. Citizens of more than 100 countries are also eligible for e-visas via this link and can expect approval within three days. Myanmar Tourism Marketing are launching their annual “Green Season” campaign for May through September with the support of hotels, airlines and tour operators. “Green Season” refers to the region’s annual wet season monsoon..."
Source/publisher: "The Thaiger" (Thailand), "The Nation" ( Thailand)
2020-02-11
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-13
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Description: " Myanmar’s travel agents have been further hit by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism’s suspension of visas-on-arrival for Chinese tourists and demands that tour operators cancel Chinese trips to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The ministry canceled visas-on-arrival for Chinese visitors on Saturday and on Monday instructed tour operators to suspend all travel services for Chinese tourists and tours from China. By ZARNI MANN 4 February 2020 Yangon – Myanmar’s travel agents have been further hit by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism’s suspension of visas-on-arrival for Chinese tourists and demands that tour operators cancel Chinese trips to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The ministry canceled visas-on-arrival for Chinese visitors on Saturday and on Monday instructed tour operators to suspend all travel services for Chinese tourists and tours from China. The move followed the announcement by the World Health Organization that the coronavirus outbreak was a global emergency. “We have to cancel all of the booked tours for February and the remaining tours are at risk until the end of the peak season. Operations have completely stopped for small travel agencies that only handle Chinese tours,” said a tour operator from Yangon, who asked not to be named. Myanmar had been expecting to receive more Chinese tourists this season than in previous years. “We received twice as many Chinese bookings than last year. We pray the coronavirus can be controlled,” the travel agent said. Myanmar received more than 300,000 Chinese tourists in 2018 and more than 750,000 in 2019, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism..."
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Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
2020-02-04
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-05
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Sub-title: Things seemed to be looking very bright this year for Myanmar’s tourism industry, which was poised to attract a record number of tourists after two years in doldrums due to the humanitarian crisis in northern Rakhine State.
Description: "At the end of last year, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism said the number of foreign arrivals, including business travellers and border traders, rose by 23 percent to 4.36 million, up from 3.55 million the previous year. But the upward momentum of the industry took a big hit with the recent outbreak of the new coronavirus in China. Government data showed that Chinese nationals accounted for nearly a third of the over two million tourists who visited the country last year, a 152pc increase from the previous year. The coronavirus outbreak in China has killed 170 people since it was first reported on December 31. At least 20pc of tourist bookings from China have been cancelled, and Chinese airlines have suspended their flights to Myanmar’s key cities of Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay as part of the effort to contain the disease. “Group tours have been cancelled,” said U Khin Zaw, adviser to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. “Chinese travellers are more afraid now than when Cyclone Nargis hit the country. It affects the entire tourism sector.” U Khin Aung Tun, vice chair of the Myanmar Tourism Federation, said that before the outbreak, bookings from China reached over 200,000. “The main point is that we need to protect our country. If something happens here, the numbers of foreign tourists here may decline.” Eden, Myanmar’s leading hotel group, said that about 25 percent of its tourist bookings had been cancelled in recent days..."
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Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2020-01-31
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-31
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Description: "Myanmar received over 4.36 million foreign visitors in 2019, said the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism on Wednesday. Tourist arrivals of 2019 increased by 23 percent, compared to the same period of the year 2018 when over 3.55 million foreign travellers arrived in Myanmar, the ministry said. The ministry recently announced granting visa-on-arrivals to ordinary passport holders from Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg and New Zealand, who will enter Myanmar through Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw international airports, for a three-year probation period until Dec. 31, 2022. Also, visa-exemption days were extended to 30 days for Vietnamese tourists in Myanmar starting from the first day of this month. Meanwhile, the visa exemption pilot program for visitors from Japan, South Korea and China has been recently extended until Sept. 30 this year. Foreign travellers visit Myanmar mainly through three international airports -- Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw, the border gates as well as via luxury cruise liners..."
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Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
2020-01-29
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-30
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Description: "Vietnam to the right of me, Myanmar to the left, Thailand stuck in the middle…. Myanmar’s 2019 tourism figures improved 15% to give the country 1,324,000 tourist arrivals through the main airport at Yangon. Officials released the 2019 visitor data for Yangon Airport, which excludes cross border arrivals and arrivals through Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw airports, the country’s two other international aviation gateways. Once overland arrivals at border checkpoints are counted, the annual inbound tourist numbers are expected to swell to around 4 million for the full 2019 year. But the numbers fall well short of the projections made for 2020 which said there would be 7.5 million tourist arrivals by the end of the last decade by the Asian Development Bank. The projections were made by a detailed report on Bumese tourism back in 2013. In 2019, Asian tourist emerged as the dominant supply with 1,060,396 arrivals at Yangon airport last year, an increase of 20%. This compares with 142,443 arrivals from Western Europe, 0% growth for 2019..."
Source/publisher: "The Thaiger" (Thailand)
2020-01-17
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-17
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Description: "Myanmar’s 2019 tourism performance improved 15% to give the country 1,323,994 tourist arrivals through the country’s main gateway Yangon airport. Officials released the year’s visitor data for the Yangon aviation gateway which excludes arrivals overland and through Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw the country’s two other international airports. Once overland arrivals at all border checkpoints are counted, the annual performance could reach 4 million in 2019. But that is a far cry from the 2020 forecast of 7.5 million outlined in the country’s tourism masterplan 2013 to 2020 that was funded by the Asian Development Bank. However, for the country’s travel industry, airline arrivals at Yangon airport are considered an accurate yardstick to measure the success of worldwide tourism promotions. In 2019, Asia emerged as the dominant supply region accumulating 1,060,396 arrivals an increase of 20%. This compared with just 142,443 arrivals from West Europe that recorded zero growth over 2018. China drives the growth in Asian markets, delivering 344,268 arrivals up by a massive 75% and replacing Thailand as the top supply market. Thailand now the second-largest market closed the year with 229,852 arrivals an increase of 2%..."
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Source/publisher: "TTR Weekly" (Bangkok)
2020-01-14
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-14
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Description: "If traveling to Myanmar for the first time, well, you have many reasons to get excited about it. Myanmar is the second-largest country in Southeast Asia and is enjoying an increased tourist tide every year. That shows that Myanmar is definitely a trendy destination for most tourists. It is indeed a great place to visit with loads of picturesque spots and more than a hundred ethnic groups. The land-locked country borders with China, Bangladesh, and Thailand and boasts of hundreds of islands and an impressive coastline. Myanmar is a leading destination for thousands of Buddhist temples and the temples of Bagan. The capital of Myanmar boasts of amazing colonial architecture and authentic, lively markets. There are plenty of opportunities for boat rides and biking tours. Although the country may not be as developed as other countries, Myanmar should be on the bucket list of every avid traveler as a trip here indeed offers a unique experience and an amazing trip..."
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Source/publisher: "Chart Attack" (Canada)
2020-01-06
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-07
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Description: "Wa Ale Resort in Myanmar’s remote Mergui Archipelago looks ahead to a year of environmentally sensitive expansion. When the owners of Wa Ale, Chris and Farina Kingsley, embarked on this island resort’s creation they first put in place a number of conservation and community initiatives. These were all brought together under one umbrella with the creation of the Lampi Foundation to ensure the eco resort could have a positive impact on the protected surroundings. Wa Ale lies within the remote Mergui, or Myeik as it’s also known, archipelago off southernmost Myanmar and Thailand’s Andaman Coast. This isolated island and its pristine surroundings area are all a part of Lampi Marine National Park. When the Kingsleys leased this island from Myanmar’s forestry department it was under the condition that they would be giving back to the local people and environment through eco-tourism..."
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Source/publisher: "Forbes" (USA)
2020-01-02
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-06
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Sub-title: The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism recently released data showing that from January to September this year, more than 1.3 million foreign tourists visited Myanmar.
Description: "This represents 390,000 more visitors or a 41 percent rise compared to the same period last year The ministry said the increase can be attributed to more visitors coming from Asian countries, such as Japan, South Korea and China, which have been the targets of the government’s “Look-East policy” for tourism. Tourists from China, Japan and South Korea have increased significantly since the government relaxed visa requirements for travellers from those countries in October last year, say tourism stakeholders. Currently, visas on arrival are available for more than 50 countries at Myanmar’s international airports in Yangon, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw. The visas allow stays in Myanmar of up to 28 days. On October 1, the government also extended visas on arrival to visitors from Germany, Russia, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Australia, as part of efforts to attract more travellers from western countries. However, some travel and tour agencies say they have not seen western arrivals to match those in the past. Industry stakeholders and experts say the government has to do much more to woo western tourists and boost the country’s sluggish tourism industry. U Than Naing, a Mandalay-based tour operator, lamented that tour season had already started when the easing of visa requirements for the six western countries took effect..."
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Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
2019-11-14
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-14
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Description: "The launch of the Myanma Tourism Bank (MTB) earlier this year is the latest initiative by the Myanmar government to spur development in its growing tourism sector. Offering low interest loans to Myanmar’s tourism players, the bank started operations at its headquarters in Yangon on 6 May – with offices in the capital Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay among those in the bank’s ambitious plan for a network of 10 branches by the end of 2019. Boasting a multitude of religious landmarks, luxury resorts and sandy beaches, Myanmar is fast gaining a reputation as an attractive tourist destination and drew in 3.55 million visitors last year. With 7,800 tour guides and 2,500 local tour companies, the majority of which are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the introduction of the MTB will go a long way in providing access to credit for Myanmar’s tourism stakeholders. Economic engine Not only will this diversify the country’s affordable tourism offerings, loans catering specifically to the tourism sector will also increase the participation of local players in developing the tourism market. The majority of investments in Myanmar’s tourism sector comes from Singapore, which accounts for more than 60 percent of the US$4.4 billion in foreign investment in hotels and commercial complexes according to Myanmar’s Ministry of Hotel and Tourism..."
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Source/publisher: "The ASEAN Post" (Malaysia)
2019-07-26
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "The number of Chinese tourists coming to Myanmar, in nine months from January to September this year, exceeded over 300,000 compared to the same period of last year, according to figures released by the ministry of labour, immigration and population. This year saw 325,193 more Chinese visitors as there were 198,256 in 2018 and 523,449 in 2019. The percentage increased to 164 % this year. Due to Rakhine conflict, the number of tourists from Western countries fell by 40 percent. As part of east look policy, Myanmar granted visa exemption for tourists from Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and Macao from October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019. For those Chinese tourists who entered Myanmar by air were granted visa on arrival for a one-year trial period. As a result, Chinese tourist arrivals have increased. Free visa and visa on arrival will be extended for one more year from October 2019 to September 30, 2020..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
2019-10-23
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-24
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Topic: ecotourism, tourism, Inle Lake, hotels
Sub-title: In the final installment of our series about award-winning responsible tourism businesses, we meet Inle Princess Resort managing director Daw Yin Myo Su to discuss the industry slowdown and how the Myanmar Responsible Tourism Awards can serve as a platfor
Topic: ecotourism, tourism, Inle Lake, hotels
Description: "THERE IS much doom and gloom in Myanmar’s tourism industry. A sharp decline in higher-spending visitors from Western countries, who have spurned Myanmar as a destination because of the crisis in Rakhine State, has been offset by a huge increase in visitors from Asian countries, especially China. However, the number of tourists from China travelling on cheap package holidays known as zero budget tours has generated debate about sustainability and who benefits from tourism. Despite many challenges, veteran hotel entrepreneur and philanthropist Daw Yin Myo Su tries to see the positives. Her many years in the industry – back to when her family ran a small guesthouse in Nyaung Shwe during the socialist era – help to put the downturn since 2016 into perspective. After all, it’s not like Myanmar hasn’t been through similar troughs before. And even if the violence in Rakhine had not prompted a drop in Western arrivals, growth would likely have slowed from the breakneck pace of the U Thein Sein government, when Myanmar was flavour of the month and visitor arrivals were increasing by at least 50 percent a year..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Frontier Myanmar" (Myanmar)
2019-10-06
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Topic: Nagaland, Travel, North Eastern States Of India
Topic: Nagaland, Travel, North Eastern States Of India
Description: "Nagaland, a picturesque state in the northeast of India, has everything on offer to satisfy solo travellers as well as adventure tourists. There are sceptics who stress that Nagaland is not tourist-friendly. However, a visit to the place would prove that all such allegations are far from the truth. In fact, Nagaland is a paradise for solo travellers. With stunning natural landscape, unique culture, age-old traditions, rich biodiversity and pleasant climate, the state is considered one among the most colourful places in India..."
Source/publisher: "Onmanorama" (India)
2019-09-23
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Topic: BURMA, EASIER, MYANMAR, TOURISM, TRAVEL, VISA ON ARRIVAL
Topic: BURMA, EASIER, MYANMAR, TOURISM, TRAVEL, VISA ON ARRIVAL
Description: "Around Thailand the possibilities for foreigners travelling is growing with visa-free arrivals, waived fees, no paperwork and quick processing at Immigration ports. Now, the Myanmar government is introducing new regulations to facilitate easier access as another step towards opening up the country to the world, and tourism. Visitors from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Macau were granted visa-free entry last year. Indian and mainland Chinese nationals were also granted visas-on-arrival into Myanmar in a move to draw more Asian visitors to the country. In the second quarter, Myanmar saw an increase in arrivals from countries granted visas free and visas-on-arrival treatment. May Myat Mon Win, Chairperson of Myanmar Tourism Marketing says… “We hope the new regulation will lead to more foreign travellers to Myanmar, to discover the country’s unique culture and most of all, the hospitality of its people.” Myanmar Tourism Marketing is organising roadshows, trade shows and media familiarisation trips for journalists, TV producers and digital marketing influencers from around the world..."
Source/publisher: "The Nation" (Thailand) via "The Thaiger" (Thailand)
2019-10-05
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Topic: MYANMAR, travel, Tourist attractions
Topic: MYANMAR, travel, Tourist attractions
Description: "The former capital is a playground for those who love food, culture and having a great holiday. Answer this quickly: What’s the capital of Myanmar? If you answered Yangon, well…you’re wrong. The capital has shifted to Naypyitaw in 2005 but Yangon remains the cultural and economic capital and most populous city in the country. This means that Yangon is still the place to travel to in Myanmar. Besides being a melting pot of the 135 ethnic groups in the nation, Yangon also features delicious food and multiple cultural landmarks. Plus, it’s affordable, which makes it even more attractive. Bonus: A quick three hour flight will get you there, which means it should be on your travel bucket list for weekend getaways. What are the things to do when you’re heading to Yangon? We’ve got you covered..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Asia One" (Singapore)
2019-09-28
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar’s popular actor and model, Paing Takhon, will act as a tourism ambassador to boost travel from Thailand to Myanmar. The appointment lasts one year, effective from 21 September, when the Myanmar Tourism Marketing Association together with the Myanmar Tourism Federation, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the actor. He will front promotions that capitalise on his popularity in Thailand where he is rapidly gaining popularity with a teenage fan base boosted by Thai Television channels and magazines. In August, he hosted his first event with Thai fans in Bangkok, and last week the Myanmar Tourism Marketing Association confirmed his appointment as the Myanmar Tourism Ambassador to promote inbound tourism from Thailand. Thailand tourist arrivals are the second largest after China. There are around 25 daily direct flights between Thailand (Bangkok and Chiang Mai) and Myanmar (Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw). Commenting on the appointment, Myanmar Tourism Marketing chairperson May Myat Mon Win, said: “Targeting regional markets is a strong part of our strategy. Myanmar Tourism Marketing will continue to promote our core destinations as well as new destinations through roadshows, trade shows and media trips for journalists.” She added: “We are delighted to have Paing Takhon as Tourism Ambassador for Myanmar – he can promote Myanmar among young travellers Thailand. We also plan to introduce fabulous new destinations for Thai Market.” Myanmar Tourism Marketing (MTM) aims to promote Myanmar as a sustainable tourism destination that can be visited the whole year-round. It is part of the Myanmar Tourism Federation and is mainly privately funded by key members of the tourism industry in Myanmar..."
Source/publisher: "TTR WEEKLY" (Thailand)
2019-09-24
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-24
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Myanmar has endured a lot in recent history. A brutal military dictatorship, which transformed its robust postcolonial economy into one of Asia’s weakest and set in motion the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya Muslims; the “8888 uprising”, a pro-democracy movement that catapulted the National League for Democracy (NLD), the political party led by Aung San Suu Kyi, into the spotlight but ultimately ended in a bloody coup, restoring isolationist military rule; and a subsequent transition towards civil authority – or something resembling democracy – with the government led by the NLD, although 25 per cent of seats in parliament are still held by a military that was found guilty of genocide in a United Nations report last year. Now the nation faces another challenge; one involving its fledgling tourism industry. In the early 2010s, the Southeast Asian nation was a picture of wide-eyed optimism as travel writers evangelised about the “land that time forgot” and kyat-rich arrivals streamed in to experience it, bringing hopes that tourism might help boost a weak economy. For the first half of the decade, everything seemed to be going according to plan, as international visitor numbers surged from 792,000 in 2010 to 4.7 million in 2015, according to CEIC Data. Tourism revenue followed the same trajectory..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "South China Morning Post"
2019-08-21
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Description: "China and Myanmar have developed fruitful cooperation in the infrastructure construction of China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) under the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI). China has been supporting Myanmar in advancing the transportation infrastructure construction including railways, roads, airports, ports, electricity and telecommunication, to inject strong impetus for Myanmar’s economic development. Chinese businesses are very interested in making investment in Myanmar. Myanmar also started issuing visa-on-arrival for Chinese visitors. Myanmar enjoyed 37 per cent growth in Chinese tourists arrivals. However, Tourism officials in Myanmar are bemoaning what they consider the bad behaviour of the skyrocketing number of Chinese visitors to the Southeast Asia Nation after they began offering the Chinese visas on arrival in 2018. Though the officials acknowledge that the growing number of Chinese visitors has given a much needed boost to the slumping economy, they have voiced concern that their actions are endangering the country’s cultural heritage sites and that their spending primarily benefits Chinese run businesses..."
Source/publisher: "Belt & Road News" via Current Affairs Correspondent East Asia
2019-08-09
Date of entry/update: 2019-09-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "Dawei dotted with famous historical pagodas can be accessible by all means of transportation Taking a trip during a long holiday is an option for relaxation. As an employee, I always think about where should I visit, when it comes to long holidays. Among many places I have been, the most unforgettable one is Dawei which is in southern Myanmar. I went there last April during Myanmar New Year’s holiday. Before deciding to go on a vacation, I discussed with my family about where we should go and what kind of general knowledge could we gain from our vacation. After consulting, we decided to go on a pilgrimage tour to Shin Koe Shin (Shin 9 Shin) pagodas in Dawei. Dawei, a town formerly known as Tavoy is in the south-eastern part of the country in Tanintharyi Region, formerly known as Tenasserim Division which is about 614.3 km (381.7 mi) south of Yangon. To go to Dawei, visitors have to pass through towns which are Bago, Kyaikto, Mawlamyine, Mudon and Ye and finally arriving in Dawei..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Myanmar Times
2017-11-24
Date of entry/update: 2019-07-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: During a recent walking tour in Yangon, 32 young people explored the city’s diverse communities and how people with differing religious and ethnic identities can live in harmony with each other. Over the course of the day, the youth, who represent eight of Myanmar’s ethnic groups, visited quarters of the downtown area where different groups, including Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Christians and Jews, live side by side in vibrant communities. The event marked Myanmar’s first celebration of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, highlighting themes that are vital to Myanmar’s future in many ways. Peaceful co-existence among different ethnic and religious communities is, of course, a top priority in a country that has been wracked by internal strife for decades. How can Myanmar build on World Day for Cultural Diversity and Dialogue to realize these aspirations and build a more harmonious and just society for all? Continuing violent conflicts in Kachin, Rakhine and Shan states are fueled by a complex mix of drivers, but certainly ethnic and communal identities and perceived differences contribute to a continued level of volatility. Even outside the conflict zones, prejudice and discrimination too often lead to hate speech and social conflict. Myanmar’s extraordinary diversity with 135 distinct ethnic groups and manifold language groups presents unique challenges. Yet the walking tour in Yangon, through disparate communities that have for the most part have lived peacefully side by side, also explored models of coexistence and cooperation between communities without compromising each’s identity or values. Following the tour, which marked Myanmar’s first celebration of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, an event at City Hall was attended by members of the Yangon Region Government, diplomatic community, and young people and other representatives of ethnic communities. “Appreciation of cultural diversity should be at the roots of development, not simply in terms of economic growth, but also as a means to better achieve sustainable development goals,” said Min Jeong Kim, Head of UNESCO Myanmar Project Office. The event also provided an occasion for the young participants, who were selected based on their membership in ethnic cultural and literary associations, to share their voices about cultural diversity based on their experiences. Representing the Bamar, Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine and Shan ethnic groups, the young people divided themselves into four groups symbolizing Diversity, Harmony, Prosperity and Unity, each comprising eight participants. “Diversity means coexisting in peace despite differences” was the lesson drawn from the walking tour, espoused by the group of the same name. “Through the historical narrative of the walking tour, we learned that people of different cultures in Myanmar used to learn, share and adopt each other’s culture,” representatives from Harmony said. “This celebration reminds us of the uniqueness and beautiful concept of diversity. It is our responsibility to cherish the similarities and embrace the differences of our culture.” The paired goals of development and peace also has particular resonance. “Despite our differences, we are all human and everyone is the same at the end of the day,” Prosperity members said. “With respect and understanding of diverse cultures, we will be able to drive towards sustainable development goals and thus achieve peace.” There was recognition that peaceful co-existence also involves an appreciation of differences. “We do not have to be feared to express ourselves, our ethnicity and our individualism,” Unity representatives said. “Throughout this walking tour, we witnessed signs of diversity everywhere we visited. However, it still remains a duty of every citizen to create an enabling environment for more people to accept the fact that diversity is beautiful.” “This celebration is a wonderful opportunity for the promotion of cultural diversity in Myanmar,” said U Maung Maung Soe, Minister of Municipal Affairs for the Yangon Region Government. “It is hoped that it will bring unity and a sense of harmony among the diverse cultures in Myanmar.”
Source/publisher: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
2019-06-11
Date of entry/update: 2019-06-20
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: ''A tour of the three most popular tourist destinations in Myanmar - Bagan, Inle Lake and Yangon. An informative video for people planning to travel to Myanmar or for those who are just curious about the country...''
Source/publisher: erikssc
2013-05-02
Date of entry/update: 2019-02-24
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Myanmar has introduced a fast-track tourist visa that delivers confirmation within 24 hours of the application, year-round, including public holidays, according to travel website ttrweekly. The Tourist Visa Express Service is a new trial with a streamlined approval process for all nationalities that are eligible for an e-tourist visa. The application is made online at the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population?s website and costs USD 56.
Source/publisher: Mizzima
2018-04-10
Date of entry/update: 2018-04-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Description: "In tourism brochure clichés, Myanmar is often referred to as the last jewel of Asia. After fifty years of isolation under military rule, the newly open Southeast Asian nation conjures quaint images of the last untouched frontier in a shrinking world. Although we must remind ourselves that such romanticisation can be misplaced, given the authoritarian regime was a harsh reality rather than a luxurious abstinence from modernisation, many foreigners are curiously enthusiastic about visiting the country. As an undergraduate focusing on Myanmar studies and the Burmese language, across my degree I have had numerous friends approach me to discuss plans to visit the country, famous for its glittering pagodas, ancient temples and rich cultural diversity. When people learn I study Myanmar, they often gush to me about their own experiences in the country. From backpackers I have chatted with in cheap bars in Cambodia, to wealthy club-goers smoking cigarettes outside expensive nightclubs in Singapore, almost everyone had a positive story to share. However, recently the tone surrounding this conversation has changed. When hairdressers, university peers, strangers at parties or uber drivers ask me what I study, their first question is now about the Rohingya crisis, or negative feelings stemming from media coverage of the situation..."
Creator/author: Mish Khan
Source/publisher: "New Mandala"
2017-11-30
Date of entry/update: 2017-12-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: "Martin Michalon explains the effects of tourism on the Inlay Lake Region... Although Inlay Lake is a major tourism highlight in Myanmar, it also faces severe environmental threats, which jeopardize the whole region?s economic system. Because of weak governance under previous governments, tourism heavily used and abused the local environment, instead of benefiting it. The NLD government has formulated promising intentions, but the weighty legacy of previous regimes, top-down governance, red tape and personal interests might hamper their efforts. This post is part of PhD research in Geography on the development of tourism in Inlay Lake region. It is mainly based on more than 200 interviews with local stakeholders, from farmers to ministry officials, to boat drivers and hotel managers..."
Creator/author: Martin Michalon
Source/publisher: teacircleoxford
2017-03-09
Date of entry/update: 2017-09-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: "More open politics and new technologies are putting much of the country back on the beaten path..."
Creator/author: Andrew Selth
Source/publisher: "New Mandala"
2016-09-12
Date of entry/update: 2017-04-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: 9 articles by various authors dated between 27 October and 2 November 2016: "Mandalay: The city behind the name" by David Mittburg, 02 Nov 2016: ?Mandalay is not the tropical paradise that many envision but there?s more to it than simply pagodas, temples and U Bein?s Bridge...?....."Trials and tribulations touring socialist Burma" by Thomas Kean, 02 Nov 2016: "U Sonny Aung Khin, owner of traditional Myanmar restaurant Padonmar in Dagon Township, discusses his five decades in the tourism industry, including 16 years in Bangkok sending curious foreign visitors to socialist-era Burma...."....."Into the Valley of Rubies, by Thomas Kean, 01 Nov 2016: "Off-limits to foreign visitors for years, Mogok, a town renowned for its precious stones, sits ready to benefit from the country?s tourism boom..."....."Shining lights in community tourism stifled by regulations", by Jakob Krembzow, 31 Oct 2016: "A handful of tourism projects around the country are seeking to deliver real benefits to host communities, but national-level policies are still heavily focused on regulations that act as a barrier to entry for smaller operators..."....."Hotel policy is broken: Here?s how to fix it" by Vicky Bowman, 31 October, 2016: "Myanmar?s tourism sector will benefit in the long run if officials spend more time managing destinations and less protecting existing hotels, and instead lets the market decide which properties succeed or fail." ....."Tourism in Myanmar: By the numbers", 29 October 2016 - A look at the numbers behind the growth of Myanmar?s tourism market since 2011, and the top sources of foreign arrivals in Myanmar." .....
Source/publisher: "Frontier Myanmar"
2016-11-02
Date of entry/update: 2016-11-07
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Abstract: "The aim of this thesis research is to explore the socio-­‐cultural changes due to tourism and how tourism related to local development. Tourism is one of the activities of human for pleasure. As more and more foreign tourists and domestic travelers have been visiting to Thaungthaman village?s tourist sites, impacts of tourism influence on the local business. The growth in tourism-­‐based industries, including sightseeing by boat, selling souvenirs and other local products to visitors has presented local residents with new options and alternative source of income. Besides, the financial returns from tourism activity are having an effect on the society. KII (Key informant interview), participant observation, FGI (Focus Group interview) were employed to get the data. As a result, this paper indicated that tourism is one of the opportunities to meet the peoples, who have not seen each other before, and to show and see the culture or places and to find the adventure.".....Paper delivered at the International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-­26 July 2015.
Creator/author: Thida
Source/publisher: International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies: Burma/Myanmar in Transition: Connectivity, Changes and Challenges: University Academic Service Centre (UNISERV), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, 24-­26 July 2015
2015-07-26
Date of entry/update: 2015-08-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
Format : pdf
Size: 1.15 MB
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Description: Thirty years after its first appearance a lot has changed—but much else hasn?t
Creator/author: Jim Andrews
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 15, No. 7
2007-07-00
Date of entry/update: 2008-05-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Wer in diesen Wochen durch das ärmste Land Asiens reist, begegnet wenigen Touristengruppen, aber einer wissbegierigen Bevölkerung, der Besucher herzlich willkommen sind. Ein 18-jähriger Informatik-Student, der auf dem Mandalay-Hügel die Mitglieder einer deutschen Reisegruppe anspricht, erläutert: „Wir wurden hier zwar Augenzeugen der Ereignisse, aber sonst wissen wir so gut wie nichts. Tourismus nach den Aufständen 2007; tourism after the uprisings 2007
Creator/author: Jürgen Diebäcker
Source/publisher: Der Westen
2008-01-23
Date of entry/update: 2008-05-02
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: German, Deutsch
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Description: Mandalay - allein der Klang des Namens war Grund genug, nach Myanmar zu reisen. Und noch immer leuchten goldene Pagoden und weiße Stupas in der Sonne und das Straßenleben fasziniert. Eine Radtour durch die Goldene Stadt; description of a trip to Mandalay
Creator/author: Antje Blinda
2003-06-02
Date of entry/update: 2008-05-02
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: German, Deutsch
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Description: Beschreibung einer Zug-Rundreise durch Burma; a journey through Burma by rail.
Creator/author: Ernst Löschmann
2000-00-00
Date of entry/update: 2008-05-02
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: German, Deutsch
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Description: Am Inle-See im Herzen Myanmars scheint es niemanden zu geben, der sich auf dem Wasser, in kippeligen Einbäumen und auf schwimmenden Beeten nicht ebenso sicher bewegt wie an Land. Für Europäer ist es deshalb eine wackelige Angelegenheit mit dem Einheimischen Suu Suu im Boot zu sitzen.Travelling lake Inle
Creator/author: Susanne Drießle
Source/publisher: Spiegel Online
2001-04-01
Date of entry/update: 2008-05-02
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: German, Deutsch
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Description: Im vergangenen Jahr beförderten die rund 30 Reiseveranstalter laut Schätzungen der Pacific Travel Association etwa 4?800 Schweizer Reisende nach Burma. Vor gut sechs Jahren, als der Schweizer Gewerkschaftsbund die Veranstalter aufgrund der flagranten Menschenrechtsverletzungen im Lande zum Rückzug aus Burma aufforderte, waren es etwa 20 Veranstalter, die rund 3?500 Reisende nach Burma schickten. Entgegen den Interpretationen in den Medien deuten die Zahlen darauf hin, dass weniger die Reisenden als die Reiseveranstalter resistent gegenüber Boykottaufrufen für Burmareisen sind. Tourismus-Statistiken; statistics on tourism; Swiss travel agencies in Burma;
Creator/author: Christine Plüss
Source/publisher: Arbeitskreis Tourismus & Entwicklung, fairunterwegs.ch
2007-10-10
Date of entry/update: 2007-10-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Deutsch, German
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Description: Government involvement helps restore shine to Rangoon?s Strand Hotel... "Rangoon is a picture book of architectural gems from the years of British colonialism. But visitors have a frustrating time discovering them. The city streets so carefully planned and built in the mid-19th century have been allowed by neglectful Burmese post-colonial governments to fade and crumble. Layers of soot and grime accumulated over the years make it difficult to detect exquisite art nouveau and solid Victorian and Edwardian features of buildings that, in their time, would not have looked out of place in bourgeois areas of London..."
Creator/author: Jim Andrews
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 14, No. 1
2006-01-00
Date of entry/update: 2006-05-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Engllish
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Description: Tour guides aren?t scared to tell the truth... "Burma?s independent tour guides can sometimes be refreshingly independent. San Tha Kyaw, the guide who welcomed us aboard the bus at the start of our package tour of Burma, was clearly no apologist for the regime, and his patter raised some eyebrows among our group. A Burmese soldier rests in front of a stupa in the archaeological zone of old Pagan ?We are now driving along Pyay Road,? he informed us as we approached the city from the airport. ?As we drive you will see that some parts of Yangon are not illuminated. That is because the government has established a rotating system to provide electricity to different parts of the city at a time. Our country is rich, but the people are poor. Our riches are taken by the military and big business.? As the bus approached University Avenue, San Tha Kyaw informed us that Aung San Suu Kyi?s home was on this road. ?But you cannot go there. She is under house arrest. She is a very nice lady, she is upright.? A glowing description of Aung San Suu Kyi?s background, her life and achievements followed. ?I can say that 99.9 percent of our people like her. Only 0.1 percent do not, and those are in the military.?..."
Creator/author: Tara Monroe
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 13, No. 5
2005-05-00
Date of entry/update: 2006-04-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: The Irrawaddy recently spoke to an "informed tourist" who shared his impressions of Burma after a visit to see the country with his own eyes.
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" Vol.. 6, No. 3
1998-05-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Introducing ecotourism ...More State firms to be privatized ...Hydroelectric deal signed with China ... Norway imports more from Burma ... MOGE signs contract with oil companies ... Burma-Japan economic agreement ... Satellite deal with Shinawatra ... Iron sheet factory begins production ... Australia to produce pearl ... Pro-golf tournament planned/.
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy", Vol. 6. No. 1
1998-02-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: "Cosmopolitan, garish and connected to the outside world via Internet and mobile phones, visitors to Mong La wonder if they are really in Burma anymore... For a while it seems like a road to nowhere. Only army checkpoints and small clusters of huts indicate some life. Then, quite suddenly, the view widens into a valley and the road changes from dirt to tar. At dusk the city ahead looks like a space shuttle that descended upon earth. Abundant neon lights line the buildings. Along a wide avenue, street lamps flash like fireworks. This is Mong La, the capital of Special Region Number Four in eastern Shan State. One wonders if this is still Burma. "Yuan," demands an old woman selling water when she is given kyat. A Chinese employee in the hotel hands over the key without the form filling and other paperwork so typical of the bureaucratic control elsewhere in the country. A condom in the basket of toiletries suggests there are other freedoms to be enjoyed too..."
Creator/author: Joan Williams
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" Vol. 11, No. 1
2003-01-00
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Description: Search for "Myanmar" on this German travel site.
Source/publisher: Stefan Loose Reisebuchverlag
2001-07-23
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: Deutsch, German
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