Foreign visitors to Myanmar near 750,000 in first seven months of 2016
Nearly 750,000 foreign nationals arrived in Myanmar through air and sea ports during the first seven months of 2016, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. Industry observers predict another 500,000 will visit the country as the tourist season resumes in mid-October, pushing total numbers for the year above 1 million. From January to July 2016, Myanmar received 740,777 foreign visitors; around 300,000 arrived on tourist visas and 450,000 with other visas, including business visas and student visas. This is more than a four percent increase on the same period of 2015. Among those on a tourist visa, more than 200,000 arrived through Yangon’s airport, more than 20,000 through Mandalay’s airport, more than 2,000 through Naypyidaw’s airport, and 8,347 by sea, state-run newspaper Global New Light of Myanmar reported on September 19.
