During eight months this year, the number of tourist arrivals reached over 2.8 million, up over 550,000 compared with the same period last year, according to a statement by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population on September 13.

Till August since January, the country received tourist arrivals of 2,259,981. The figures increased by 554,158 compared with the tourist arrivals of 2,814,139 during the same period last year.

During this period, the tourist arrival figures cover 1,120,132 arrivals by flight, 6,143 by ships, 79,667 by border gates, 1205942 by visa and 1608197 through border.

Currently, China tops the list of tourist arrivals with 457,069, followed by South Korea with 75,489. The number of Chinese tourist arrivals increased by 161 per cent, South Korea, by 77 per cent, Italy, by 19 per cent, Spain and by 15 per cent.

The number of tourist arrivals from Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore from ASEAN has dropped while Myanmar sees a decline in the arrivals of visitors from the western European countries like UK, Switzerland, Belgium and France.

The number of tourist arrivals reached 3,443,133 in 2017 and 3,551,428 in 2018.