It is no exaggeration to say that Myanmar hotel and tourism had existed in Myanmar about the same time when Buddhism arrived and flourished in the country several centuries ago. Tourism was called pilgrimage in those days and hotel was known as ‘zayat’ (rest house). People travelled within and outside the country for the dual purposes of doing business (trade, commerce, state affairs etc) and visiting sacred places for worship. They were called pilgrims. There were zayats built for the lodging of the traveller-pilgrims at the wayside of the long distances, at the junction of the roads, at the jetty, in the monastic compounds and pagoda precincts, or on the summit of the sacred Mounts. Zayats were built as deeds of religious merit by the people from all walks of life, kings, ministers, wealthymen, traders, monks, peasants, and villagers. There were wells, tanks, dams and canals to supply fresh water and fruit and shade trees planted around the sacred monuments, and farms of vegetables and flowers in the nearby villages. In some big zayats, bedding, cooking utensils, and some herbal medicine were provided for the guests free of charge. No fee was charged for using the zayats and all appertaining facilities. One may donate some contribution in cash or kind to the pagoda or monastery nearby but there is no obligation. Pilgrims may bring their groceries and prepare food there or if there is a feast in the locality they may go and join it for the feasts are open houses. If the feast is out of season a traveller-pilgrim may go to a monastery in the neighbourhood where he can get some share of the alms meal from the monks who are willing to provide a stranger the extra from whatever they have partaken. Until pretty recently such was the system and it still is for native pilgrims. Zayats and Pilgrimage instead of hotel and tourism.
Hotel was first introduced in the early British colonial days for the European travellers, who came to Myanmar to visit places of interest, enjoy beauty spots, and experience Myanmar cultural activities. Only a handful hotels appeared in the capital Yangon and the second capital Mandalay, May Myo (Pyin Oo Lwin), Taung Gyi and Kalaw. The Burma Railway kept its own hotels at major station towns mostly for its own employees. Circuit houses and bungalows on a uniform design of either entirely teak, brick or stone, or mixture were erected in almost every city and every major town for the Government servicemen to lodge and dine during their duty tour. At such buildings were a retinue of servants- - watchman, gardener, sweeper, punka-puller, errand boy, cook, laundryman etc. . of whom the butler was the Major-domo. Most of them were either Anglo-Indian or Indian who spoke fluent English and who were well-trained in giving service in the Western style.
It was only after Myanmar regained independence in 1948 that hotel and tourism as an industry slowly grew up in the country. As the Myanmar entreprenuers in those days were not accustomed to commercialized hospitality, hotels were owned and run privately by Europeans, Armenians, Jews, Indians and Chinese. The Strand Hotel, the Thamada Hotel, the Green Hotel in Yangon, and a few hotels in Mandalay, May Myo, Kalaw and Taung Gyi were of such type at the beginning. Later due to the increasing number of state guests and foreign visitors to the country two big modern hotels- - one in Yangon named Inya Lake Hotel and the other in Bagan called Thiri Pyit Saya Hotel were constructed. During the time of the Socialist Government 1962--1988, all hotels became state owned and the Hotel and Tourism Corporation was formed under the Ministry of Trade. In 1967 the first tourist guide training courses were conducted, which were repeated almost every alternate year.
With the change of Government in 1988, the Myanmar economy changed from the centrally controlled socialist type to the market-orientated economy. Among many new laws enacted to suit the new economic system and conditions was the Myanmar Hotel and Tourism Law No. 14/93, 23, October 1993. The objectives of this law are:
a systematic development of the hotel and tourism industry;
to enable tourists to observe Myanmar cultural heritage and natural scenic beauty;
to prevent destruction and damage of the Myanmar cultural heritage and natural scenic beauty, due to the hotel and tourism industry;
to contribute to international friendship and understanding through the hotel and tourism industry;
to develop technical knowledge relating to hotel and tourism industry and to open up more employment opportunities;
to provide security and satisfaction of tourists.
Although foreign exchange earning is the main target of the Myanmar hotel and tourism industry, it is cultural tourism that Myanmar intends to promote because the Myanmar Government and people believe that cultural tourism contributes to international friendship and understanding.
With a view to according all guests and visitors the best possible hospitality in the true sense of Myanmar tradition, the Government and the people jointly made all out effort to boost tourism. The Ministry of Hotel and Tourism was established, inviting native and foreign investments in the industry on most attractive terms. The Directorate of Hotels and Tourism was set up, which formed an Inspectorate to inspect hotel and tourism industry, and to issue licence to operate any hotel and tourism industry. With the help of neighbouring countries like Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia trainings in all hotel and tourism services are being given to old and new employees.
Within so short a period of four to five years hotels, motels, inns and lodging houses, bars, snacks, and restaurants and eateries have emerged with mashroom rapidity. With the restoration of law and order throughout the country, Myanmar enjoys peace and stability and investors gain confidence in Myanmar economic prospects. Next to the energy sector, hotel and tourism is the largest foreign investment area.
There are 28 foreign hotel construction projects which have been signed with the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism. The total amount of investment in these projects is US $ 1474.5 million. When these projects are completely implemented altogether 7099 hotel rooms of international standard will be available. Similarly there are 14 foreign hotel construction projects signed with other Ministries, with a total investment US $ 159.287 million and room capacity of 1802. The total number of hotels motels and inns being operated by native entrepreneurs is 426, with room capacity of 7770. The investment in them is kyats 4532.530 million and US $ 4.900 million.
There are eleven hotels under the operation of the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism. They have 397 rooms. Investment in them is kyat 1114.115 million.
The Ministry of Hotel and Tourism has rented to private entreprenuers 16 hotels with the total number of 628 rooms and investment of kyat 215.296 million.
To facilitate the arrival of world tourists from the neighbouring countries tour programmes are extended to the Myanmar-Yunnan border area such as Lwei-gyei-Bamaw tour, Muse-Namkham tour, Kyu-kop day trip, Muse-Lashio-Mandalay-Bagan-Taungyi-Yangon tour. In the Myanmar-Thai border area, Tachileik day trip, Tachileik-Kyaington tour and Myawaddy, Payathonsu and Kawthaung day trips have been opened.
In 1987 the number of tourists who came to Myanmar totalled 42000. After the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism was established the rise in tourist arrivals from Yangon entry alone and increase in tourism-related income according to the budget years are as follows:
Budget Total arrivals Income
year from Yangon (million)
entry
1992-93 26607 US $ 19.06
1993-94 62547 US $ 21.78
1994-95 91859 US $ 34.18
1995-96 137320 US $ 47.15
1996-97
till March 179594 US $ 90
These figures show that since the budget year 1994-95 there is 50% average increase in tourist arrivals in Myanmar.
As central control recedess and more and more privatization comes in, the hospitality industry in Myanmar is changing hands. To date there are 426 privately owned hotels, motels, inns and lodging houses, 586 private travels and tours, 1587 transport agencies and 2425 private licenced tour guides.
The hotel and tourism industry is seasonal as well as subject to changing conditions at home and abroad. One cannot always be optimistic about its bright prospect. There are periods of boom and periods of bane depending upon unforeseen circumstances. Myanmar is a newcomer in this industry, so for her there is a long way to go and a wide gap to cover. Besides there is the urgent need to present her true image to the world which knows very little but which has many misconceived and misinformed ideass about her.
However, with the help of her wellwishers and ASEAN friends the world will come to understand her real situation and realize that Myanmar is a uniquely hospitable and fascinating land to visit.