by Su Myat Sandy
YANGON, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- Significant reforms and increased exchanges with the international community brought Myanmar over 1 million foreign tourists in 2012, an increase of 200,000 compared with 2011.
Myanmar is now seen as an attracting tourist destination for international travelers to experience its abundantly rich cultural and natural heritage, genuine hospitality and spiritual value.
International travelers visit Myanmar through such important gateways as Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Nay Pyi Taw as well as border points.
At present, the number of globetrotters arriving Yangon International Airport hit over 2,300 daily, while those entering through border points from neighboring Thailand and China are estimated at 400,000.
Myanmar received 554,531 foreign visitors to Yangon alone in 2012, representing an increase of 54 percent compared with 2011.
It is expected that tourist arrivals in 2013 will set a new record high.
For tourists with social or business purposes, accommodation is ready for them with 19,014 suits from 448 hotels in Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay, Bagan, Taunggyi and Inlay regions.
To raise accommodation capacity, Myanmar is planning one more new hotel zone in Yangon, making feasibility study on 200-acre (81- hectare) land plot in suburban area of Dagon Myothit (East).
The existing hotel zones in Myanmar lie in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, Mandalay and Bago, Rakhine, Mawlamyine, Bagan, Taunggyi, Chaungtha, Golden Triangle and Ngwehsaung.
Myanmar earned 1.064 billion U.S. dollars in 2012 as of July from hotel and tourist sector.
Visa restrictions have been eased by allowing visa-on-arrival to travelers for business purposes and for transit at Yangon and Mandalay international airports.
The visa-on-arrival is currently only available to citizens from 27 places including nine ASEAN nations, Australia, China's Macao and Hong Kong as well as Taiwan region, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, the United States, South Korea and North Korea.
Business visa is allowed for 70 days by paying 50 U.S. dollars, while tourist visa for 28 days with 40 U.S. dollars and transit visa for 24 hours with 20 U.S. dollars.
In light of its reform strategy, Myanmar is making efforts to develop tourism, a smokeless industry, by introducing a policy of responsible tourism in the country.
The responsible tourism policy is being developed with the technical and financial support from the Germany-based Hanns Seidal Foundation and a master plan in this regard is being drafted.
Myanmar rejoined the UN World Tourism Organization (WTO) in June 2012 which promised to support Myanmar in taking full advantage of its tremendous tourist potential.
At present, tourist care centers are also opened at Yangon, Mandalay and Nyaung U airports and more will follow suit across the country.
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