Myanmar targets 7.5m tourist arrivals by 2020

Myanmar targeted 7.5 million tourist arrivals by 2020 according to the country's Tourism Master Plan drawn last year, official media reported Saturday. Arrival of foreign tourists increase from 791,505 in 2010 to more than 2.04 million in 2013, said the New Light of Myanmar, quoting the official data. Both the number of inbound tourists and outbound tourists have increased in 2014, while arrangements for domestic tours have risen. Among the number of inbound tourists, visitors from Thailand are at the highest number. Most popular tourist destinations for Thai visitors are Kanbawzathardi Palace in Bago and Kyaikhtiyoe pagoda in Mon State, said a tour operator. The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism announced that The European Council on Tourism and Trade will hand Myanmar the "World Best Tourist Destination Award" for 2014. The award is normally awarded based on ethics for tourist industry, safety of tourists and preservation of cultural heritages designated by the United Nations Tourism Division, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) and European Union Council on Tourism and Trade.