Photo by Ben Smethers http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5038/7430029238 _782b5dc255.jpg
Myanmar is opening up its borders to accommodate a new influx of foreign travelers eager to experience the country’s tourism boom after political reforms. The Bangkok Post reported that visitors, especially from the west, are planning to take advantage of the nearly 2,000 licensed tour guides nationwide as well as the visa on arrival program.
The government has also asked local and foreign investors to fund construction of a second airport in Yangon . The planned airport will cover 9,000 acres and will be the country’s fourth airport capable of handling international flights.
Myanmar is also boosting foreign interest with plans to host the World Economic Forum in 2013, the SEA Games in the same year, and the Asean Summit in 2014. Already the country saw a 30 per cent increase in Yangon Airport arrivals in the first quarter.
Due to the expected double in arrivals hotel investments are becoming attractive ventures for outside investors. At the same time hotel prices are starting to rise causing the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism to warn foreign-owned hotels to abide by rules stating that standard rooms should not be higher than US$150.
The Wall Street Journal reported that at the Strand hotel in Myanmar occupancy was over 80 per cent in May and June this year-compared to rates of between 15-20 per cent during the same period only a year ago. Now 80 per cent of its bookings have been with business clients.
At one time back when Myanmar was known as Burma, the country was a legendary tourist location immortalized by writer such as Somerset Maugham in the The Gentleman in the Parlour , George Orwell in Burmese days and the poems of Rudyard Kipling. Hopefully, Myanmar will regain its former splendor.
Rudyard Kipling
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