Industry analysts claim interest will return to Myanmar’s tourism sector after some challenges including the Rakhine crisis and the downswing due to the coronavirus, according to Skift.com.

“We foresee an improvement in the next high season [October 2020 to March 2021] now that the ICJ [International Court of Justice] had concluded its findings,” said Jehan Wick, who has been in Myanmar since 1997 and now runs his company, JW Hospitality Management. “This improved sentiment was [noticed] by most operators since the World Travel Market [in London] in November.”

Changes are taking place. Khiri Travel Group, an inbound agency handling Western clients in Asia with an office in Myanmar, said bookings rebounded from countries such as the UK, Netherlands, and Scandinavia after the ICJ ruling. 

Herman Hoven, CEO of Khiri Travel Group, said December 2019 and January 2020 bookings have increased 25 percent, and the luxury sector is coming back en masse.

Other tour operators are also expecting a rebound.