Tourism in Myanmar is expected to drop by half

Deputy Minister of Hotels and Tourism, Tin Latt, said that the number of foreign tourists is expected to drop by half this year due to the Corona virus.

“The number of Chinese tourists coming here is about 25 percent. If the Chinese stop now, the 25% will be reduced. And, as far as we know, Japan and the West, Japan and China. Korea has had some cancellations. So it is certain that this year’s traffic could fall between 20 and 50 percent, ”he said.

The Irrawaddy responded to an interview by The Irrawaddy following a tourism event in Mandalay in late February.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, there were more than 200,000 foreign tourists arriving in Myanmar in the month of January 2020, up from more than 100,000, up 25% from the previous year.

During the months of February and March, outbreaks have spread across the country, so foreign travelers are now required to close their country of origin to prevent the spread of the disease. Airline halts According to the tourism industry, most of the tourists are canceling from their booked tours.

Japan, Japan, and the United States have all agreed. Deputy Prime Minister Tin Lai said nearly 50 percent of Asian and Western countries, including Korea, were canceling visits to Myanmar.

The number of foreign tourists arriving in the country last year exceeded 4.3 million, with the current number of arrivals due to the Coronavirus.

Myanmar Tourism Association chairman Nong Nang Han said that the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak was being compiled with relevant organizations to obtain accurate information on the number of tourists traveling.

“At present, it is still impossible to gauge how much tourism is in the tourism sector,” he said. So we are expecting more than the ministry figures, ”he told The Irrawaddy.

He continued, “No matter how big the government has been, it has no effect on the economy. In this situation, it is important that health and safety take precedence in this situation, so it should be a priority. If the situation is stabilized, it is hoped that the government will be able to recover. ”

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced a global outbreak last December in Wuhan, China.

By March 11, the virus has spread to more than 100,000 people in 110 countries, including China, and more than 4,000 have died.