Myanmar attracted 4.68 tourists last year, according to the latest stats from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.
That’s more than 52 per cent more people than visited in 2014, The Irrawaddy reported.
To put that rise into context: in 2011, before the transition to semi-civilian rule, there were just 800,000.
The newest figure represents a win for the government, who hoped for 4.5 to 5 million tourists in 2015.
But industry insiders have doubted the stats, noting that all foreigners are notched up as tourists when many arrive overland on business.
There were more than 800,000 arrivals via plane or ship, according to an article published in the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar.
The biggest group (200,000) were Thai citizens, and then Chinese and Japanese, Myo Win Nyunt, a director in the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism’s regulation department told The Irrawaddy.
“We think our tourism sector is successful,” he said. “We have nearly reached the expected figure of 5 million. More hotels are now opening and our government also encourages the tourism sector.”
