Vang Vieng, Lao PDR

Myanmar plans to lure back tourists

Myanmar is finalising procedures for reopening its tourism sector to foreigners early next year and will also prepare necessary arrangements for travel bubbles with Thailand, according to Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism Htay Aung.

The effort comes as new Covid-19 infections decelerate in the nation of 55 million, which has prompted the lifting of a ban on inter-provincial travel. The easing and traditional holidays have already spurred some locals to go on vacation, Htay Aung said.

“We are preparing for necessary arrangements for travel bubbles with Thailand so that we will be ready when they reach out to us through an official channel,” he said in an interview. “We also aim at reopening to Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam in the first quarter of 2022.”

The goal is to open so Thais can safely visit popular tourist destinations in and around Kawthoung, Myeik, Dawei, Tachileik and Kyaington, he said. Myanmar borders five countries — Thailand, China, India, Bangladesh and Laos — and still has a ban on international commercial flights.

Thailand last week unveiled its plans to drop quarantines for fully vaccinated visitors from some countries starting Nov 1 to kick-start its own tourism industry.

Regarding the plan for the travel bubble between Myanmar and Thailand, the Bangkok Post asked Natapanu Nopakun, deputy spokesman for the Thai Foreign Affairs Ministry, about it. Mr Natapanu, who also presents press briefings in English for the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, said the travel bubble has not yet been raised in CCSA meetings.

For Myanmar tourism, about 300,000 foreigners are expected in the first phase of the reopening, Htay Aung said. Although half of the country’s hotels and guest houses have suspended operations, some 90,000 rooms are still available, he said.

Kempinski Group, Europe’s oldest luxury hotel chain, announced last week that it was ceasing operations in the nation’s capital Nay Pyi Taw, citing “current circumstances”.

Read the full article at Bangkok Post: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2200083/myanmar-plans-to-lure-back-tourists

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