Visitors to Arakan State rise but tourism industry continues to struggle amid renewed hostilities

By DMG 15 Nov 2022

DMG Newsroom
15 November 2022, Sittwe

Arakan State saw 3,866 foreign arrivals from January to October of this year, according to the state’s Directorate of Hotels and Tourism.

The number represents a significant increase compared with last year, when Arakan State received 2,704 foreign visitors, according to U Tin Tun, head of the directorate.

“Of those 3,866 arrivals, more than 70 entered Arakan State with travel visas. Some 60 of them went to Thandwe. As the operations of international commercial flights have resumed, the number of foreign travellers is increasing over time, but they are not yet coming in large numbers,” said U Tin Tun Aung.

Arakan State has seen an increase in international tourist arrivals since Myanmar opened again to international commercial flights on April 17, 2022, after a lengthy ban aimed at limiting the spread of Covid-19, he said.

Arakan State only drew 56,265 local travellers in 2021, but as of October this year, it had attracted 292,715 local visitors, according to the Arakan State Directorate of Hotels and Tourism.

Ngapali Beach in Thandwe saw a surge in local and foreign holidaymakers in October, but arrivals are being held back by the return of instability in the region, said hotelier Daw Khin Mar Thu.

“Tourist arrivals and political situations are, of course, related. We received large numbers of visitors during Thadingyut, and the number declined by half for Tazaungdaing. The situation could get worse with political instability,” she added.

The Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA) have been engaged in fighting not only in the townships of northern Arakan State, but also in some southern townships including Ann and Taungup. The military regime has also detained civilians on suspicion of having ties to the AA in Thandwe, Kyaukphyu, Manaung and other Arakan State townships.

U Khin Maung Tun, owner of the Royal Lin Thar Hotel in Ngapali, said: “Our hotel is open. However, there are no guests. Visitors mostly lodge at seaside hotels, partly because they offer discounts. Our hotels [which are some ways from the beach] are not profitable. It is as if we were closed. We only receive some four guests in the entire month.”

Mrauk-U, the former royal capital of the ancient Arakanese Kingdom, is also receiving few visitors due to ongoing regional instability, though the archaeological heritage site attracted foreign travellers earlier this year when there was no fighting, according to a tour guide from Mrauk-U who asked for anonymity.

“It is fair to say there are no travellers at all in Mrauk-U because of the fighting and political instability. The last time I was hired by foreigners to guide them was some six months ago. But they were not international travellers, and instead were foreigners working in Myanmar,” he said.

Military tensions have been escalating in townships across northern Arakan State since renewed fighting erupted in August.

ocals including hoteliers and tour guides who are dependent on tourism are struggling as the industry continues to face Covid- and conflict-related challenges in Arakan State.