Local tourism sector sees good prospects as the tourist arrivals has increased by 23 per cent in January and February, this year, said Union Minister for Hotel and Tourism Ohn Maung.

The minister divulged facts about the ministry’s undertakings during their third-year tenure in the State-owned newspapers.

The country’s tourist arrivals have increased by 3.15 per cent this year, compared with the previous years.

Most tourists are Chinese citizens. But the number of tourist arrivals from the EU, Thailand and Malaysia dropped, according to the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population.

The number of tourist arrivals by cruise liners has declined by 15 per cent and via border gates, increased by 144 per cent.  From January to March, the number of tourist arrivals reached 928,453, up 208,162 compared with the same period last year.

The number of Chinese tourist arrivals reached 159,163 in late March, up 90,177 compared with the same period last year.