Myanmar expects to achieve its target of attracting five million tourists in 2020, even as fears about the deadly coronavirus that originated in China cast a long shadow over the travel industry, Bloomberg reported.

The new coronavirus has killed more than 100 people in China and sickened thousands. Asia's top economy has suspended outbound group tours to try and prevent the spread of the disease, denting the outlook for regional tourism.

Myanmar received 4.4 million visitors last year, a 23 per cent climb from 2018 powered by surging Asian arrivals, according to government data. The number of Chinese tourists more than doubled, the report said.