CNI News

20 March 2024

In making preparations during the Thingyan holiday, the number of people who will travel abroad were more than travelling within the country, U Naung Naung Han from the Myanmar Travel Entrepreneurs Association, told CNI News. 

Although travelling within the country during the Thingyan holiday might decrease in comparison with last year, the number of people who will go abroad has increased more than last year, he said.

While seeing Myanmar citizens at the airport

" There might be a little decline in the number of people who will travel within the country because there are still vacant hotel rooms that haven't been booked. Most travelling abroad were short-term visits a few months ago. But during the coming Thingyan holiday, long-term visits such as Buddha Gaya trip that takes one week or tendays are more because the coming Thingyan holiday is longer. And many trips to Europe have been sold. Myanmar people are to go to Vietnam in groups. Travelling abroad will increase a bit this year, I think." said U Naung Naung Han to CNI News.

Most domestic tourists are making arrangements to go abroad because some tourist destinations within the country have not been stable, said travel operators. During the last Thingyan holiday, most domestic tourists went to Ngapali, Chaungtha, Nwe Saung, southern Shan State, Bagan, Mandalay and Kachin State.

However, because some tourist destinations within the country have not been stable and there were transportation difficulties, domestic tourists might be able to go to Chaungtha and Nwe Saung only, U Thet Lwin Toe, managing director of Myanmar Voyages International Tourism, told CNI News.

While seeing the beach

" Especially domestic tourists will go to Nwe Saung and Chaungtha. There might not be the people who will go to Ngapali because the cost is too high. At a time like this, if you go to Heho, an air ticket will be paid over 2 lakh kyats. An air ticket to Bagan will be about 2 lakh kyats as well. But there is flight not everyday. So, people largely go to those places by car. Many Myanmar people will go to Thailand and Singapore. People have booked to go to Thailand until April. According to the current situation, young people and middle-aged people have prepared to go to these countries. Air tickets are also expensive." he said.

Many domestic tourists went to Chaungtha, Nwesaung, southern Shan State and Ngapali during the 2023 Thingyan holiday reportedly.

However, according to the current situations, trips to Chaungtha, Nwesaung, Bagan, Mandalay and southern Shan State are being arranged reportedly.

In travelling, rather than travelling with tourism industries, more tourists tend to travel on their own. Moreover, although there were a lot of pilgrimages in the past, there are reportedly only a few pilgrimages left reportedly.