eTN, 13-Sept-2007

An official from Myanmar’s Ministry of Tourism has claimed that no significant cancellations have been reported, and arrivals are still up over last year. The official, who was not authorized to speak to reporters therefore speaking on condition of anonymity, told Agence France Presse: “We don’t think tourist arrivals will decrease because of the protests here. Now the number of arrivals is up 11 percent from April 1 to now, compared to the same period last year. These protests are not about tourists.”Tourism’s peak season is due to start in October when the dry season starts and the weather turns cooler. Travel operators are so far claiming that no tourists have cancelled their reservation yet as a result of the protests. Last year, approximately 630,000 foreigners visited military-ruled Myanmar, spending some US$164 million.

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