More than 700,000 Chinese entered Myanmar on a zero budget tour in 2019 with over 300,000 of them through Yangon, said Minister for Kayin Ethnic Affairs Naw Pan Thinzar Myo during the ninth regular session of Yangon Region Parliament held on January 27.

Yangon Region MP Kyaw Zeya asked several questions about the number of tourists who arrived last year on zero budget dollar tours, how much revenue was received and any government plan to ensure that zero budget tour benefits local ethnic entrepreneurs in one way.

"From January to December 2019, 749,719 Chinese tourists entered Myanmar and of them 344,268 came to Yangon Region," the minister said.

"In comparison with 2018, the arrival of Chinese tourists improved 73 percent in 2019. Increase is due to visa relaxation and our 'Look East' policy. As the number of visitors from the West decreases, our policy and visa relaxation for Southeast Asian countries help increase the tourist arrival," she said.

According to figures from tour companies targeting Chinese travellers, cash on arrival was previously used in collecting tour service fees. But now, most Chinese travellers pay money through international banks or local private banks, stay at middle-class hotels, eat at Chinese restaurants and rent cars depending on the number of people they have.

There are 25 local tour companies giving tour services to Chinese visitors. According to data from a company, it provided services to over 7,000 Chinese visitors during the period between October to July in 2018-2019 fiscal year, earning income of Ks2,637 million, the minister said.

The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has formed a committee to scrutinize the arrivals of Chinese tourists.

In 2019, 135,585 international tourists entered Myanmar on visa on arrival through Yangon airport.