SOME 1.69 million foreign visitors entered the country in the first six months of 2016, according to the Department of Hotels and Tourism. The department said the country’s tourism industry has seen a 4% increase compared with the same period last year.
Over 650,000 tourists visited the country in the first six months last year. Despite the monsoon season, the country still witnesses an increase in the tourist arrivals, said U Myo Win Nyunt, Director of Hotel and Tourism Department.
The department’s statistics show that a majority of tourists visiting the country are from Thailand, followed by China and Japan.
Travel companies expect more tourists from Europe and Asia. Currently, 70 per cent of tourists visiting the country are from Thailand, Singapore, China, South Korea and Japan, while tourists from Europe accounted for 30 per cent.
Myanmar won the Best Destination Award presented by Lonely Planet in 2015, according to the ministry.
Source: Global New Light of Myanmar
