MYANMAR
Vacations and Sightseeing

Basic information
Official language	Burmese
Capital	Naypyidaw
Area	676.578 km²
Population	55,032,421  (2021)
Currency	kyat  (MMK)
Web	.mm
Code.	MMR
Tel.	+95

Vacations and Sightseeing

In the 1990s, the military regime did everything in its power to attract more tourists to Myanmar. However, they forgot that the infrastructure was far too poor to receive many more tourists. In 1994 Myanmar attracted 62,000 tourists, in 2004 202,000. Most visitors (about 60%) come from Asia: China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Japan. From Europe, mainly French, Germans, British and Italians come.

Although Myanmar has a lot to offer (sights, beaches), the politically unstable situation hampers the development of tourism.

The Shwedagon Pagoda is probably the most famous tourist attraction in Myanmar, Shwedagon is synonymous with Myanmar. It is the oldest pagoda on earth and the centre of Buddhism in Myanmar. The pagoda is said to be covered with 30 tons of gold (some say 60 tons), but no one knows the exact number. There are also a large number of jewels buried in the pagoda. Most of the shrines have beautiful sculptures and carvings.

Mandalay was the last capital of the Burmese kings and is the cultural capital of Myanmar. It was built by King Mindon of the Konboun dynasty and was ruled by two kings until it came under British rule in 1885 (officially on the 01 January 1886). Despite its dwindling numbers, hundreds of traditional artists, sculptors, bronzers and carpet artists are still active. The most sacred Buddha statue in Myanmar is in Mandalay, as is the famous stone inscription of Tri-Pitaka at the foot of Mandalay Hill.

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Sources

Hulst, H. / Birma: (Myanmar)
KIT Publishers/Oxfam Novib

Köllner, H. / Myanmar (Birma)
Het Spectrum

Myat Yin, S. / Burma
Times Books

Peterse, L. / Birma (Myanmar)
Gottmer/Becht

Reid, R. / Myanmar (Burma)
Lonely Planet

Wikipedia

CIA - World Factbook

BBC - Country Profiles

Last updated November 2024
Copyright: Team The World of Info