Increased demand sees 146 new hotels opened in 2013

Increased demand sees 146 new hotels opened in 2013

Published on Wednesday, 22 January 2014 21:11

Myanmar finished 2013 with 923 hotels, offering around 35,000 rooms, an increase from 787 hotels in 2012, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

Of these hotels, Nay Pyi Taw accounts for 50 (4,020 rooms), Yangon for 232 (10,175), Mandalay for 104 (4,439), Bagan for 77 (2,386), and Taunggyi and Inle Lake for 70 (1,939).

While half of the hotels are located in Myanmar's commercial centre, tourist arrivals to the city continue to increase while room shortages remain high, according to sources from the tourism industry.

Myanmar received more than 2.4 million visitors last year – more than 885,000 visitors by air, more than 6,000 visitors by sea, and more than 1 million visitors from the border gates, according to ministry figures.

Of the visitors travelling by air, Yangon airport received the majority of arrivals, with more 800,000 visitors. Mandalay airport received 70,000 visitors, Nay Pyi Taw airport more than 10,000 visitors and Mawlamyine airport more than 1,000 visitors.

As tourism arrivals to the country set record highs, foreign hotel chains have begun to invest in Myanmar while local entrepreneurs are opening smaller hotels to meet the market demand.

As the number of foreign investors increases, there is a higher demand for not only hotels but also for tourism-related businesses.

The Myanmar Investment Commission has so far granted permission to nearly US$ 2 billion (Ks 1.97 trillion) worth of investment in hotels and tourism-related businesses.

http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/increased-demand-sees-146-new-hotels-opened-in-2013/