TRAVEL experts in Myanmar are urging tourists to visit areas of the country that were not affected by cyclone Nargis to help boost the overall recovery of the nation.

A spokesperson from the Union of Myanmar Travel Association (UMTA) said earlier this month that destinations such as Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake were not affected by the cyclone and tourism was operating as normal in those areas.

“This is a best time for those who don’t like crowds because it’s the off-season, so visitors can enjoy their holiday without too many other people around and also without the higher prices of the peak season,” he said.

UMTA representatives also attended Thailand’s Travel Mart Plus, held in Bangkok from June 5 to 8, to spread the word that most tourist destinations were still operating in Myanmar, according to a report on the online E-travel Blackboard.

The report pointed out that the association had posted a new website after the cyclone (www.umtanet.org) containing important information to the travel industry, and providing details about how to give financial assistance to cyclone survivors.

A UMTA representative said members of the Myanmar Marketing Committee would also attend upcoming overseas trade shows to encourage tourists to come to Myanmar in the off-season and beyond.

Dr Aung Myat Kyaw, the chairman of the Myanmar Tourism Promotion Board and the managing director of Orchestra Travel and Tours, agreed that the off-season was a good time to travel to avoid crowds and to enjoy special hotel and airline rates.

“Apart from the delta region, tourist activities are operating as usual throughout the country,” he said.

U Myat Khine, the managing director of MT & K Travel and Tours, said his company was offering special rates for the off-season.

“We are giving special rates for regular customers and trying to attract new clients by explaining how off-season travel in Myanmar is more relaxing, comfortable and flexible,” he said.

“At this moment we are offering two or three trip programs a month, especially for those who work with NGOs for Nargis relief.”

He said that so far this year his company has seen a drop in off-season business compared with last year. According to figures from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, overall tourist arrivals from January to May fell from 130,406 in 2007 to 90,650 this year.

However, this decrease is not deterring industry experts from planning ahead for the coming peak season.

U Hla Maung Shwe, the chairman of the Ngwe Saung Hotel Zone and joint secretary (1) of Myanmar Hotelier Association, said that most hotels at Ngwe Saung have been closed for the off-season but would be ready when tourists returned to the beach in a few months.

“I hope Ngwe Saung will be operating normally in the coming peak season but until then tourists can come to Myanmar and visit many attractive tourist destinations in upper Myanmar,” he said.