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OVERSEAS marketing promotions and an increase in the number of carriers
flying to Myanmar have contributed to a sharp rise in arrivals for the
tourism industry's busiest period of the year.
Bookings for the tourist high season, from October to March, have borne
out predictions that it will be the best in years.
Marketing activities by all sectors of the industry had played an
important role in attracting more foreign visitors, said Mr. Sukhdeep
Singh, the managing director of Myanmar Hotels International, which owns
the Strand, Dusit Inya Lake and Thamada hotels in partnership with Myanmar
Hotels and Tourism Service.
Mr. Singh,a member of the Myanmar Marketing Committee of the Myanmar
Tourism Promotion Board, said its overseas promotions were beginning to
payoff.
"More and more people are I aware of Myanmar as a tourist destination,"
said Mr. Singh.
He said this was reflected in figures for tourist arrivals at Yangon
International Airport, which were up 16 percent in October and 16.5
percent in November over the same months last year.
The introduction of new services by national flag carrier, Myanmar Airways
International, has also benefited the industry.
"The introduction of new direct flights to New Delhi and Hong Kong has
certainly generated more business," said
Ma Win Min Khaing, the sales executive at MAI.
She said an increase in the frequency of services to Bangkok and Kuala
Lumpur had also proved popular with travelers.
Marketing by new international carriers had also been a significant factor
in the surge in arrivals.
"I very much welcome new international airlines," said Mr. Maarten
Groeneveld, the managing director of
Diethelm Travel Ltd. "They do a lot of destination marketing by
themselves, which helps the industry," he said.
Mr. Groeneveld said the launch of new domestic carrier, Air Bagan, had
also made it easier for tourists to travel throughout the country.
"In the past, we experienced difficulties booking domestic flights," he
said.
"They were fully booked, especially in December, which affected sales of
tour packages."
Hotels are delighted by the stronger tourism market.
Occupancy rates are up 20 per cent on last high season, said U Zayar Win,
the marketing and communications manager at Yangon's Nikko Royal Lake
Hotel.
"We have more Spaniards than last year and even small markets like
Australia, India and Bangladesh have expanded," he said.
Other Yangon hotels enjoying a busier high season include the Grand Plaza
Parkroyal.
"We are up about 20 on last year," said Daw Susie Moe Aung, the hotel's
director of sales.
"Our Singapore market is as strong as ever and we've had a few Russians
starting to stay ," she said.
Meanwhile, the managing director of Shan Yoma Travel and Tours Co. Ltd., U
Hla Aye, said the internet was helping to bring in more business.
Tourism
"Thanks to internet developmentin Myanmar, it is much easier for
international travelers to make enquiries," U Hla Aye said.
He said the internet was making it easier for travellets to book tours and
to gain
information about destinations throughout the country.
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