Myanmar’s Ministry of Hotels and Tourism recently announced their 2013-14 goal of two million foreign tourists has nearly been met. As of December 25, 2013, 1.9 million visitors had entered the country and with four months remaining in the fiscal year, it is highly likely the target will be met. “The figure is high enough for the expectation to be reached. We are also making preparations to welcome three million visitors in the next fiscal year,” said Tint Tun Aung, a spokesman for the ministry.

While the majority of vacationers were from Asia, numbers are steadily rising for tourists from both Europe and the U.S. The most visited cities were Yangon and Bagan with other popular destinations including Mandalay, Inle, Kyaikhteeyoe and Ngapali. Over the past four years, Myanmar’s tourism has grown 83 percent and has received USD $500 million from Asian Development Bank and Norway for a seven-year tourism development project.

To help continue progress for Myanmar’s tourism, improved transportation services will be made available to those traveling to the country’s most frequented locales including Putao, Myeik, Narga, Natmauk Taung, Loikaw, Chaungthar, Ngwesaung, Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Inle, Kyaikhteeyoe, and Ngapali.