Myanmar’s tourism development depends much on internal peace, said Khin Aung Tun, vice president of the Myanmar Tourism Federation.
“Tourism development relies much on the peace of our country. As tourism is related to all strata of life, it is not a business that comes to a single group of rich people. It is all inclusive and all are responsible. As we need peace, all stakeholders are responsible for developing our tourism industry,” said Khin Aung Tun.
Rakhine conflict in 2017 led to a 40 percent decrease in visits of Westerners in 2018. Under a Look East policy, Myanmar eased visa restrictions on ASEAN countries and Japan, China and Korea on October 1, 2018.
But since earlier this year, clashes have occurred between Myanmar army and Arakan Army (AA) in some townships of northern Rakhine State, and fighting spread to Mrauk-U Town rich in cultural heritage.
“The spread of clashes to the ancient cultural city of Mrauk-U is not good for our tourism industry. Mrauk-U is among promotion areas. While we are also trying to put it on the list of UNESCO, tourism is not good there. We want the problem to be settled. We want there to be peace. The resumption of fighting is not good for Rakhine State and it can also impact Myanmar’s tourism,” he commented.
Khin Than Win, a deputy director-general from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, said that matters related to easing visa restrictions on Germany, France and Italy which make most visits to Myanmar have been submitted to relevant departments. Myanmar received 3.6 million foreign tourists in 2018 seeing 1.1 million more when compared to 2017 that saw 3.4 million . Among them, most entries were via border point of entry, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.