Its military junta notwithstanding, Myanmar is working to raise its profile as a desirable destination for global travellers
Last December, the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office reported that Myanmar welcomed over 800,000 foreign arrivals as of end-October 2025.
The country’s capital Yangon as well as major cities Bagan and Taunggyi, in particular, saw an influx of tourists from China, South Korea, and Thailand.
According to the Burmese Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, this rise in tourist numbers can be attributed to the country’s cultural attractions, gracious hospitality, and extensive range of scenic locations.
Despite this, the fact that many global governments continue to advise their nationals not to go to Myanmar due to conflicts involving the military junta continues to throw a wrench in the development of the national tourism industry.
In which case, is there a way by which Myanmar can raise its profile as a tourist destination despite current circumstances?
Expending every effort
Since 2023, Myanmar’s military government has sought to assure global travellers that their nation is safe and worth visiting.
According to a feature from French broadsheet Le Monde, the Burmese government issued nearly 370,000 tourist visas as of March 2023, reflecting a 187 percent increase from the figure reported at the same time in the previous year.
While certainly not in the same league as the four million foreign tourists recorded at the end of 2019, it was proof that the country still drew in travellers, particularly from China, India, Russia, and West Asia.
Indeed, this may be construed as proof that the Myanmar Tourism Strategic Recovery Roadmap (MTSRR) launched in 2021 is working and gradually building the numbers back to previous levels.
This specific roadmap covered the period from 2021 to 2015 and involved a phased approach to tourism recovery via targeted marketing, the development of new attractions, as well as promoting domestic tourism.
Another key development was allowing nationals from eight Asian countries to enter Myanmar visa-free, specifically those from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, entering through international airports in Mandalay, Naypyidaw, and Yangon.
Next steps
It should also be noted at this point that Myanmar has actively stepped up its participation in a number of both global and regional travel trade events, including the ASEAN Tourism Forum / TRAVEX, ITE in both Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as the Mekong Tourism Forum.
At the same time, the country’s Ministry of Hotels and Tourism continues to highlight its distinctive cultural heritage, natural landscapes, and renowned hospitality through a series of campaigns targeted at those seeking immersive cultural experiences, as well as adventure travellers.
Such campaigns portray Myanmar as a safe and welcoming destination where there is something for everyone.
However, especially in these challenging times, we have to wonder: how else can Myanmar step up its game now that global travellers are setting their sights on Southeast Asia?