Tourism
From The Report: Myanmar 2020
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Sharing borders with India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Laos and China, Myanmar is one of the last frontiers of Asian tourism. Offering pristine beaches, abundant cultural and natural attractions, and a warm, hospitable population, the country has significant potential – especially considering the thriving travel markets in neighbouring states. Following its opening as a travel destination, the sector experienced impressive growth in both arrival numbers and foreign direct investment. However, unrest in Rakhine State in 2017 and the international media coverage that followed have negatively impacted the sector, diminishing the flow of visitors from Western countries. Visitor demographics have since changed and the sector is undergoing a gradual recovery, with sizeable growth stemming from Asian source markets. Tourism has been supported by a number of government reforms and initiatives, including relaxed visa regulations, and efforts are under way to establish new flight routes to the country. This chapter contains an interview with Daw Su Su Tin, Managing Director, EXO Travel.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

On the up: Government reforms and increased visitor numbers from Asian markets support industry revival
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Situated in the north-west of South-east Asia, and sharing borders with India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Laos and China, Myanmar is one of the last frontiers of Asian tourism. Offering pristine beaches, abundant cultural and natural attractions, and a warm, hospitable population, the country has significant potential – especially considering the thriving travel markets in neighbouring states. Following its opening as a travel destination, the sector experienced impressive growth in both arrival…

Analysis

Robust approach: Demand for ecotourism and sustainable travel continues to grow as opportunity for diversification expands
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The Myanmar Tourism Master Plan 2013-20 is diversifying the sector, while also ensuring that initiatives are implemented in a way that preserves and respects the country’s culture and natural beauty. There is rapidly growing global demand for ecotourism and sustainable travel, and this segment has emerged as a key area for investment in Myanmar. With its diverse flora and fauna, and broad array of landscapes and climate zones, the country is well placed to establish itself as a leading…

Analysis

Take it to the bank: A dedicated bank is opened to boost the sector’s access to credit
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Myanmar is looking to capitalise on a recent tourism rebound and stimulate more investment in the sector, following efforts to improve access to credit for smaller operators. In May 2019 the first branch of the Myanma Tourism Bank (MTB) – the country’s first bank dedicated to supporting the tourism and hospitality sector – opened in Yangon. Branches in Mandalay and Naypyidaw are also now in operation, and the MTB hopes to open a further seven branches over the short term. Backed by…

Interview

Bouncing back: Daw Su Su Tin, Managing Director for Myanmar, EXO Travel, on taking advantage of a changing market
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Interview:Daw Su Su Tin In what ways can states and regions take advantage of policy decentralisation? DAW SU SU TIN: Individual states and regions have now increased jurisdiction over their tourism agenda. This is a broadly positive development, although some regional ministers have more experience in this area than others. For instance, the chief ministers of Mandalay, Kayah and Tanintharyi are examples of very strong leaders driving good policy initiatives, and are all working to utilise…

Overview

Room to manoeuvre: The hospitality sector is expanding and evolving to support growing numbers of international travellers
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Aided by easier and cheaper travel, global tourism has experienced two decades of almost uninterrupted growth. According to the World Bank, the number of international departures more than doubled between 1997 and 2017, from 687m to 1.57bn per annum. With the global middle class estimated by the US-based think tank Brookings Institution to be expanding by as many as 160m people per year until 2021, it is unsurprising that almost half of the growth in tourist numbers was in departures from low- and middle-income countries, which increased from 121m in 1997 to 564m in 2017. Significant growth was also recorded in the number of arrivals to…

Overview

Room to manoeuvre: The hospitality sector is expanding and evolving to support growing numbers of international travellers
OBG
plus

Aided by easier and cheaper travel, global tourism has experienced two decades of almost uninterrupted growth. According to the World Bank, the number of international departures more than doubled between 1997 and 2017, from 687m to 1.57bn per annum. With the global middle class estimated by the US-based think tank Brookings Institution to be expanding by as many as 160m people per year until 2021, it is unsurprising that almost half of the growth in tourist numbers was in departures from low- and middle-income countries, which increased from 121m in 1997 to 564m in 2017. Significant growth was also recorded in the number of arrivals to…