According to President Thein Sein Myanmar is awaiting 5 million tourists in 2015. The European Tourism Association has nominated Myanmar for the world top travel award and arrangements are in progress to welcome three million tourists in 2014.
To gather accurate data in tourism industry world tourism associations are helping Myanmar and Myanmar is collaborating with International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Institute for International Development (IID) to enhance tourism around the Lake and surrounding mountain areas.
According to the announcement from the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism, this year Myanmar has started executing a tourism master plan and selected Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Inle, Kyeikhtiyo, Ngapali, Ngwe Saung, Putao, Myeik, Naga, Netmaung Taung and Loikaw as areas of interest.