Online bookings popular among foreign visitors to Myanmar

Nyaung Oo March 3

Although international tourist arrivals to Myanmar increased by 50 per cent in 2015, backpacker arrivals to Myanmar with package tour has decreased compared with last year, according to Myanmar Travel Association.

“Due to extensive use of online system, foreign travellers book hotels and airlines via online when they come to Myanmar. Therefore, travellers with package tour to Myanmar has decreased,” said U Thet Lwin, chairperson of Myanmar Travel Association.

“Licensed tour companies increased up to 1,950 and tour guides over 7,000 in 2015. However, most of the foreign travellers came to Myanmar by booking hotels and airlines via online rather than package tours so that challenges have been triggered for the survival of tourism industries,” he said.

“Booking airlines and hotels via online is more economy than package tours. Therefore, most of the travellers use online booking. Also, we need to give good service to the travellers,” said U Maung Maung Swe, vice chairperson of Myanmar Travel Association.

According to the data of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, tourists with package tour was 18 per cent in 2015, down from 22 per cent in 2014. Although the infl ux of foreign travellers to Myanmar was 3.08 million in 2014, foreign travellers to Myanmar increased up to 4.69 million in 2015.

The Myawady Daily