Burma’s tourism star on the rise as Thailand tries to bounce back
Balloons float over the famous pagodas of Bagan, Burma. Pic: AP.
The future just keeps looking brighter for Burma (Myanmar), at least from a business perspective. International investments have gathered pace since the country’s march toward democratization began in 2010. The tourism industry has been booming recently, thanks to increased flights, ease of travel, and the government’s increasingly open attitude toward the international community. Ancient sites such as the temples of Bagan, Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda, and the archipelagos of Myeik are becoming priority items on more travelers’ Southeast Asia bucket lists, so much so that the Burmese government expects 2015 to be a banner year.
An estimated five million tourists will descend on Burma and its ancient attractions, according to Xinhua News. That will be a significant increase over 2014, which saw a record-breaking 3.05 million people visit what was a pariah state only a few years ago. If the estimate is correct, tourism growth this year will be an even bigger leap than between 2013 and 2014 (2.05 million tourists visited in 2013). The rapid rise in Burma’s popularity meant more than $1 billion in tourism revenue last year, according to Xinhua News.
The government plans to open a Tourism Development Bank that will loan money to tour companies and entrepreneurs interested in opening travel-related businesses to cater to the wave of visitors, TTR Weekly reported.
Burma will host the ASEAN Tourism Forum later from Jan. 22-29, further signaling the industry’s important to the burgeoning economy. The Columbus Dispatch, an American newspaper, predicted that Burma, alongside other developing nations such as Cuba, will be a “hot” tourism destination this year. The publication also noted that Asian cruises could become a major travel trend this year, especially as countries such as China amp up their cruise tourism capabilities.
Cambodia is another country eager to grow its tourism industry. Tourism officials from Cambodia and China recently signed an agreement to enhance travel between the two countries, bolstering the tour companies and travel services already in place. A rise in the number of affluent or middle-class Chinese has meant more Chinese travelers to Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand.
But Cambodia and Burma could well become attractive destinations for Chinese travelers, especially if there is an increase in tour services and quality hotels and resorts. Cambodia will also host a tourism conference this year, the World Conference on Tourism and Culture, organized by the UNWTO and UNESCO. This could signify Cambodia’s potential importance to ASEAN tourism, and is an opportunity for the government to prove that it is ready to ramp up its offerings and attract a wider range of travelers.
(READ MORE: Thailand tourism down, but not out)
Thailand, a neighbor of both Burma and Cambodia, has long been a prominent travel destination for tourists from around the world. But the country suffered blows to its tourism industry in 2014 due to political unrest, the declaration of martial law, and a military coup last May. The tourism sector struggled to rebound after the volatile spring, despite theassurances of safety from the military junta. Tourism numbers were down 6.6 percent overall for 2014, according to The Nation.
Certain areas of Thailand, Pattaya in particular, will also likely be affected by the collapse of the Russian ruble. Pattaya is an especially popular vacation spot for Russian travelers, as is Phuket, but Business Insider says they may be tightening their belts during this difficult economic time.
