Myanmar to be awarded Best Tourist Destination

Myanmar will be presented the award of World Best Tourist Destination for 2014 by European Union Council on Tourism and Trade soon, state-media reported Sunday. The award is aimed at boosting Myanmar's tourism industry and promote tourist attractions in the country which are famed for their unique cultural heritage not only in Asia but also in the world, said the New Light of Myanmar. The award is presented based on ethics for tourism 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. The World Best Tourist Destination Award, introduced in 2007, is one of the highest accolades in the travel and tourism industry in the world. Additionally, in the wake of dramatic increase in tourist arrivals, Myanmar has planned to introduce travel insurance services. However, the number of applicants is still low. To enhance development of its tourism industry, Myanmar opened four entry and exit gates on the Myanmar-Thai border in August last year. Meanwhile, visa-on-arrival for visitors from 48 countries and regions have also been offered to facilitate their travel to the country. In 2013, Myanmar attracted over 2 million tourists, of whom 1. 14 million entered through border gates and 885,476 through airports . Myanmar targets 3 million tourist arrivals in 2014.