The COVID-19 pandemic brought international travel to a standstill in 2020, while Myanmar’s military coup in February 2021 and the ensuing armed conflict dealt another blow to the country’s tourism industry.
Foreign tourist arrivals to Bagan plunged from more than 400,000 in 2019 to around 15,000 in 2023.
Myanmar’s military authorities are trying to revive tourism across the nation through promotional campaigns, easing visa requirements and other efforts to attract visitors from countries including China, India and Russia.
They have also pursued closer tourism ties with Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia, while promoting domestic travel through tour packages and other initiatives.
Nationwide, Myanmar welcomed about 973,000 international visitors in 2025, according to official figures reported by Bloomberg.
Authorities are targeting 1.8 million foreign arrivals this year, but even if Myanmar meets its goal, visitor numbers would still be far below pre-pandemic levels.