Travel companies are confident that spectacular sites such as Bagan will lure vacationers back to Myanmar after a lull in tourist arrivals.

DESPITE a slow start to Myanmar’s tourist season, representatives from the local travel industry said they were optimistic that visitor numbers would bounce back in the coming months.

Daw Phyu Phyu Mar, the managing director of Seven Star tour company, said the company was doing its bit to let potential tourists know the country is still a viable destination.

“We’re doing our best to let our agents abroad know that Myanmar is safe for travel and we will also participate in trade fairs in other countries to promote Myanmar as a travel destination,” she said.

U Hla Aye, the managing director of Shan Yoma travel company, said he has received a number of calls from prospective travellers in other countries asking about the current situation in Myanmar.

“I try to persuade people that it’s okay to come to Myanmar although commu-nication with our overseas customers is a bit difficult at the moment,” he said.
Like many other local tour companies, Shan Yoma is attempting to entice travellers to destinations in Myanmar with special deals.

“For example, we’re offering a six-day/five-night tour to the Phaung Daw Oo Festival in Shan State in late October that includes stops in Yangon, Heho, Inle Lake, Taunggyi, Kalaw and Pindaya,” said U Hla Aye.

“We’ve already received many inquiries about the trip and expect to get quite a few advanced bookings,” he said.

Another travel company, Pacific Asia Tours, is planning a Thadingyut Holiday Package at Ngwe Saung Beach from October 26 to 28, which includes accommodation, meals and a bonfire party at the beach on October 27.

And Myanmar Tourism Service company is offering a six-day/five-night package for travel to Yangon, Bagan and Mandalay, available from now until the end of April, except from December 24 to January 7, and April 10 to 18.

The package includes accommodation, domestic flights and other transportation, entrance fees for the sightseeing spots and tour guide services.
A spokesperson from the company said they had not suffered any cancellations so far this year.

U Khin Maung – the sales manager from Interconnection Travel Company, which specialises in arranging package tours for travellers from Europe – also said he had not had any trips cancelled but conceded that “this year there seems to be fewer bookings”.

Meanwhile, Dr Aung Myat Kyaw, the chairman of Myanmar Marketing Committee, told The Myanmar Times earlier this month that the committee would “work closely with every member of the tourism community to help sustain Myanmar’s tourism industry”.