CRI听力:Myanmar urged to refine tourism environment to attract more Chinese tourists

The Southeast Asian nation is keen to boost its economy with a boom in foreign tourism. 

Myanmar correspondent Tu Yun explains.

Since it opened up its doors to the world in 2011, Myanmar has been experiencing a boom in foreign visitors.

Martin Zdarek, Commercial Manager with Qatar Airways' Myanmar branch, has witnessed the change: "We've been seeing growth since we entered the market. Even last year December we added additional frequencies. So now we fly five times per week and I believe in the future there will be more opportunities in the market."

But one thing remains unsatisfactory to local tourism-related business operators.

Dai Liyun, Head of the Yangon-based Easy Go Travel & Tours, said: 钬沨he number of Chinese tourists is small."

Chinese tourists are renowned for being big spenders, topping the list as the number one source of cross-border travel spending in the world for a number of years.

A study report by the economic forecasting firm Oxford Economics and the credit card company Visa, predicts Chinese tourists will spend more than 250 billion US dollars abroad by 2025, almost double that spent by US tourists abroad and larger than the spending by tourists from Germany, the UK, and Russia combined.

"We receive some one hundred travelers from China each year. We would like to have more Chinese tourists."

Chinese nationals have been allowed to visit Myanmar on group tours since 2001. But quite a few travel agencies, even those in the neighboring Chinese province of Yunnan, are still staying at arms length from organizing tour groups to Myanmar.

Myanmar, as the last frontier in Southeast Asia, Myanmar has been attracting increasing numbers of foreign visitors. [Photo: China Plus/Tu Yun]

Qin Yan is the marketing manager of the Yunnan Golden Peacock Tour Group. Her company has long been planning a "Golden Quadrangle" tour package to include destinations in neighboring Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar.

"The border town of Daluo in Xishuangbanna on our side is adjacent to Little Mong La of the fourth district of Myanmar's Shan State. Daluo is a national-level port, while Little Mong La is the only a port of a special district. Their statuses are different. So you can only enter Little Mong La from the Chinese side with a border crossing permit, which is available only to local residents. We can only offer a day-tour of the special district in Shan State since passports don't work there. If travelers can enter Myanmar with a passport, our 'Golden Quadrangle' circular tour plan will be implementable." said Qin.

Apart from the passport barrier, social instability is another factor deterring more Chinese tourists from coming in. This is in addition to the unrest in the country's northern and western border areas.

The Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Hong Liang explains: 钬渊 Chinese-funded clothing company in Yangon has recently been attacked by a group of outlaws. We hope it can be properly handled within the legal framework at an early date. Myanmar is facing some challenges in promoting domestic peace and stability. We believe the authorities' continuous effort in this regard will provide a more reliable sense of security for foreign tourists coming to Myanmar."

Tu Yun reporting from Nay Pyi Taw.