Myanmar targets 3m tourists by 2015

Myanmar targeted the number of tourist arrival to 3 million by 2015, a near triple of the 2012 figure, official media reported Wednesday. In meeting with Norwegian Ambassador to Myanmar Katja Nordgaard in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday, Htay Aung elaborated on progress in drafting Tourism Master Plan with the help from the Norwegian government and Asia Development Bank, Minister for Hotels and Tourism U Htay Aung was quoted by New Light of Myanmar newspaper as saying. The master plan will be presented at World Economic Forum (East Asia) scheduled to take place in Nay Pyi Taw in June this year. He also discussed plans to develop infrastructures and environmental conservation at Inlay Lake. Myanmar could attract over 1 million foreign tourists to the country in 2012, an increase of 200,000 compared with that in 2011, due to significant changes in Myanmar during the year. Meanwhile, international tourist agencies are targeting Myanmar as a tour destination as the country's tourist industry is improving. Many foreign visitors will come and visit Myanmar to attend the 27th Southeast Asian Games at the end of this year and the ASEAN Summit and other related Summits next year. Myanmar is planning more new hotel zones to raise accommodation capacity. The existing hotel zones in Myanmar lie in Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, Mandalay, Bago, Rakhine, Mawlamyine, Bagan, Taunggyi, Chaungtha, Golden Triangle and Ngwe Saung. At present, there are more than 36 foreign-invested hotels of which some are under construction.