Myanmar's foreign arrivals up 44%

Foreign arrivals at Yangon airport during the first four months of the year jumped 44% year-on-year, with Europeans accounting for about one-third, reports said Sunday.

Through April, 253,136 foreign visitors arrived at Yangon airport, 67,460 of them Europeans, the Myanmar Times reported.

Among European arrivals, France was the main source market followed by Britain and Germany, according to Ministry of Hotels and Tourism figures.

About 60% of all arrivals in the main commercial city were from Asia, led by Thailand, Japan, South Korea and China.

Of the total arrivals, 64% were tourists and the remainder were business travellers.

The increase in visitors was largely attributed to political and economic reforms undertaken by the government since 2011.

"Last year more than a million tourists visited the country (through all entry points)," said Aung Myat Kyaw, chairman of Union of Myanmar Travel Association. "Since Myanmar is an increasingly popular destination, I believe arrival numbers will be 50% more than last year."-Bangkok Post