Big tourism increase forecast for Bagan

Despite the doubling of the entry fee to the Bagan tourist zone over the past two years, and discouraging news of floods and explosions, officials expect visitor numbers to continue to grow “dramatically” in the near future, The Myanmar Times reported.

U Nyein Lwin, deputy director of the Bagan branch of the Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library, told The Myanmar Times that the hoped-for designation of the city as a Unesco Heritage Site could spur further international interest.

He expressed confidence that the site would continue to attract increasing numbers over the next three years, despite rivalry from Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam, and bad news such as the recent flooding and the bomb blast in Bangkok.

So far this year, visitor figures are no higher than last year’s for the same period, however.

Hotelier U Khin Maung Myint said the tourism industry had been “disrupted” by a range of “incidents” this year.

“Tourists stopped coming but now they are coming again. Hotels and guest houses are already fully booked for December,” he said.

The expected influx will come despite the US$20 entry fee to the zone, which is collected by ward administration offices, bus terminals, hotels and guest houses.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/big-tourism-increase-forecast-for-bagan

-- Thai PBS 2015-10-08

“Tourists stopped coming but now they are coming again. Hotels and guest houses are already fully booked for December,” he said.

Good for them, they deserve it - not like in Thailand where they now run around like headless chickens panicking cause the High Season is going down the toilet due to the danger and corruption visitors experience in Land of Scams ... only TAT can save the Tourism trying to lure more people with some idiotic campaign

Yes Sam...the best year they have had --2.04 million, counting both air and overland arrivals. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Myanmar

I am sure they would swap with Thailand's 28 million + any day of the week.....................

Bagan ? i don't even know what street it's on