myanmar tourism shines

     The arrival of U.S. President Barack Obama to Myanmar, Monday (19/11/2012), a sign that Myanmar is already open to the world. Myanmar two years later became the target of foreign tourist destination since the country began to open up the world for foreigners, especially in terms of tourism.
     In the past year, Myanmar rose predicates in different lists as the country tourist must visit. Finally, more and more tourists coming into the country. Now, meet city street billboards. As well as a music concert that brings the world's top singer Jason Mraz will perform in Myanmar in December.
     Myanmmar government also is trying every way to develop tourism. As revealed from the Myanmar Times, Myanmar Tourism Federation (MTF) or the Myanmar Tourism Federation has established an international division that served to attract foreign tourists, both for pleasure and business affairs.
     The plan, Yangon International Airport will be expanded. Currently, the airport with a capacity of 2.7 million passengers a year to 3.7 million passengers in 2013. The expansion will enable the airport to accommodate up to 5 million passengers when the expansion is completed in 2015 to serve the growing international passenger numbers.
     On 1 April 2012, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism Myanmmar has launched e-visa site. With this site, visitors can get an electronic visa within five working days.
     "Currently, the plan is a new e-visa valid for first time people in Southeast Asia. Only after that can apply to everyone, "said Tin Nwe Wynt of Myanmar Marketing Committee.
     In 2011, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, record the number of foreign tourist arrivals as much as 391 176 people. In 2012, this figure is predicted to rise to 500,000 people. Local tourism industry worry that the country's infrastructure can not keep pace with the rapidly increasing number of visits, especially when solid season visit in November to March.Myanmar has 25,358 hotel rooms. As many as 8152 of them scattered in Yangon. In other popular destinations such as Bagan and Nyaung Shwe, only available 2,076 rooms and 937 rooms.If seen from these data, in December 2011 have occurred as much as 47 475 foreign tourists who enter Myanmar. A total of 43,800 tourists entered Yangon. The question is where they stay?"As solid season visit, the rooms are very limited. We see tourists coming in Yangon without accommodation and tour operators should arrange their trip by flying them to Bagan or Mandalay who still have an empty room, "said General Manager of The Strand Hotel, Didier Belmonte.
    Some four-and five-star hotel will be built in the next few years. However, due to the constraints of lack of room, tour operators complained that room rates have increased three to five times the original contract.Earlier this year, 80 rooms with rates up to 200 U.S. dollars or 250 dollars. "Myanmar has climbed 30 percent more expensive than Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam in terms of the basis of similar quality hotel, domestic flights, restaurants, etc.," said Anne Cruickshanks, Product Manager of Exotissimo Travel and Adventure Myanmar.