BURMA: 2008 TOURISM LEVELS DOWN 20 PERCENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 RANGOON 000054 SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS, INR/EAP PACOM FOR FPA TREASURY FOR OASIA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/28/2019 TAGS: ECON EFIN PREL PGOV PINR BM SUBJECT: BURMA: 2008 TOURISM LEVELS DOWN 20 PERCENT REF: 08 RANGOON 677 RANGOON 00000054 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Economic Officer Samantha A. Carl-Yoder for Reasons 1.4 (b and d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) Burma's 2008 tourism levels fell 20 percent compared to 2007, despite a substantial increase during October through December. Burma attracted 177,018 tourists in 2008, mostly from other Asian countries. Due to the decline, many tourism-related businesses registered financial losses in 2008, resulting in the lay-offs of approximately 50,000 people. However, based on a strong fourth quarter of 2008, industry insiders predict tourism will rebound in 2009. End Summary. Tourism in 2008: Overall Decline But Upsurge in Fourth Quarter -------------- ¶2. (C) Burma's nascent tourism industry, which officials predicted would boom in 2007 and 2008, suffered dramatically from the twin effects of the regime's violent crackdown in September 2007 and Cyclone Nargis in May 2008. During the last three months of 2007, usually the peak of Burma's season, the number of tourists declined by 65 percent, as a result of the September 2007 political crisis. The first three quarters of 2008 did not provide any reprieve for the industry, as tourism figures fell by an additional 42 percent through October, compared to 2007 levels (Reftel). However, by the end of 2008, the tourist industry rebounded, with the number of visitors increasing by approximately 80 percent in the last quarter compared to 2007 levels. (Note: Compared to 2006, Burma's most successful year for tourism, 2008 fourth quarter levels were approximately 33 percent lower.) In sum, the number of tourists in 2008 totaled 177,018, an overall decline of 20 percent from 2007 levels. -------------- -------------- Number of Official Tourists to Burma 2006-2008 -------------- -------------- Percent Percent Month 2006 2007 Change 2008 Change -------------- -------------- January 24,675 30,584 23.95 19,024 - 37.80 February 22,529 29,489 30.89 18,951 - 35.74 March 20,210 27,621 36.67 21,100 - 23.61 April 17,028 19,368 13.74 14,075 - 27.33 
May 12,741 15,818 24.15 9,258 - 41.47 June 13,817 16,621 20.29 10,968 - 20.62 July 17,744 21,248 19.75 10,591 - 50.16 August 19,109 19,414 1.60 11,385 - 41.36 September 14,585 13,774 - 5.56 10,279 - 25.37 October 23,695 7,221 -69.53 16,491 128.38 November 29,004 10,165 -64.95 16,523 62.55 December 30,403 11,285 -62.88 18,373 62.80 -------------- -------------- Total 245,540 222,608 - 9.34 177,018 -20.48 -------------- -------------- Source: Myanmar Hotels International ¶3. (C) Despite a dismal year overall, 2008 end-of-year figures indicate that Burma's tourism industry may be recovering. Tourism officials, bolstered by the substantial increase in visitors between October and December, are optimistic that 2009 levels could reach those of 2006 - a RANGOON 00000054 002.2 OF 003 total of 245,540 visitors. However, some industry insiders recognize that the 2008 fourth quarter figures are still well below those of 2006 - and that Burma has a long way to go to change the world's perception. Aung Myat Kyaw, Chairman of the Myanmar Tourism Promotion Board, acknowledged the world's continuing criticism of Burma for its abysmal human rights record, but he noted that the majority of Burma's tourists come from other Asian countries, and are "less concerned about these issues." The key for Burma, he observed, is to attract additional Asian customers. -------------- -------------- Burma's Tourists by Origin 2008 -------------- -------------- Region Number Percentage -------------- -------------- Asia 115,735 65.4 Western Europe 34,985 19.8 North America 13,910 7.9 Australasia 5,984 3.4 Eastern Europe 3,649 2.1 Middle East 1,349 0.8 -------------- -------------- Source: Myanmar Hotels International Industry insiders: Tourist destinations suffering -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) According to Sigi Bierbaumer, General Manager of Traders Hotel, one of Rangoon's flagship properties, small and medium-sized hotels in Rangoon saw an average 60 percent drop in room bookings in 2008. However, larger international hotels fared better, registering an average occupancy rate of 75 percent in 2008. Bierbaumer attributed the higher occupancy rate to business travelers, conventions (particularly jade and gem show attendees),and the influx of UN and NGO staff after Cyclone Nargis. Saman Sarathchandra, General Manager of Sedona Hotel in Rangoon, agreed, but explained that many larger hotels posted profits in 2008, not based on bookings, but because of profits earned on food and beverages. ¶5. (C) While larger hotels in Rangoon profited during 2008, the tourism industry outside of Rangoon fared poorly. According the Myanmar Tourism Promotion Board, hotels, restaurants, and other tourism-related companies in Burma's main tourist locations - Bagan, Mandalay, Ngapali Beach, and Inle Lake - registered substantial financial losses during the 2008 tourist season, based primarily on the loss of tourists during the first nine months of the year. Koichi Tanaka, General Manager of the Sedona Mandalay Hotel, told us that occupancy rates in Mandalay were between 15 and 20 percent, a drop from 35 percent in 2007. ¶6. (C) Brett Melzer, owner of Balloons Over Bagan (a key tourist attraction),said tourism in Bagan dropped by more than 50 percent, forcing hotels, restaurants, and transportation services to reduce services and cut staff. Several of the smaller hotels in Mandalay, Taunggyi, Myitkyina, and even Rangoon registered fewer than 75 customers each month for the past six months, while others were forced to close down "temporarily" due to lack of customers, Aung Myat Kyaw told us. Other local businesses, which depend on revenues earned in the high season to carry them through the rest of the year, were forced to close their doors, unable to cover operating costs including salaries. ¶7. (C) In 2007, the tourism sector directly employed an RANGOON 00000054 003.2 OF 003 estimated 500,000 people. Aung Myat Kyaw estimated approximately 50,000 people lost their jobs in 2008, although no official figures are available. In Mandalay alone, more than 400 hotel employees, taxi drivers, and tour guides were laid off in 2008. Fifty small and medium-sized hotels and restaurants closed for lack of customers, Tanaka told us. Burma's aviation industry also took a hit, with more than 500 people losing their jobs in 2008 due to loss of business and reduced flight schedules. What does the future hold? -------------- ¶8. (C) Tourism industry analysts hope for stability in 2009 and perhaps an increase in tourism numbers, even though they acknowledge that the world financial crisis may deter tourist travel. Saman Sarathchandra of the Sedona Hotel suggested, however, that since tourists who visit Burma tend to be older and financially well-off, they may be less affected by the economic crisis. Sarathchandra commented that with the shut down of Bangkok airport late last year and the continuing political uncertainty in Thailand, some well-off tourists are opting to travel to Burma. He noted that bookings at Rangoon's five star hotels through March are 50 percent higher than 2008 levels. ¶9. (C) Sarathchandra said Burma's lack of infrastructure - roads, airports, and the aviation sector - is a long-term problem that must be addressed soon. He said GOB plans to build a new airport in Ngwe Saung Beach (a popular destination along the Bay of Bengal, and recent repairs of the Sittwe Airport (in Rakhine State) are steps in the right direction. According to Koichi Tanaka of Sedona Mandalay, the Tourism Association will continue to push the Ministry of Tourism and the GOB in general to address infrastructure needs and promote Burma as a tourist destination during tourism fairs in Europe and Asia in 2009. DINGER