Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) During the extended public holiday from February 12th to 17th, 2026, the Bagan cultural heritage area in Myanmar experienced a tourism boom, with a continuous increase in both domestic and international tourists. Visitors from all over flocked to famous pagodas and temples, showcasing the unique charm of Bagan's cultural heritage and driving a strong recovery in the local tourism industry, injecting robust vitality into the community economy.
Core Attractions Booming with Popularity, Key Data Impressive
Among Bagan's 18 core attractions, two landmarks became popular tourist hotspots: Shwezigon Pagoda received over 90,000 visitors, and Thilaw Myintloun Temple received over 60,000 visitors. The combined number of visitors to these two attractions exceeded 150,000, fully demonstrating tourists' strong interest in Bagan's ancient sites. Official data shows that both local pilgrims and foreign tourists showed a high level of appreciation for Bagan's historical and cultural heritage. **Diverse Sources of Foreign Tourists, Vibrant Tourism Market**
According to the various pagoda councils, foreign tourists visiting during the holiday period mainly came from 14 countries, including China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Switzerland, France, Spain, Germany, Poland, Italy, Slovenia, and Brazil. These tourists spanned multiple regions across Asia, Europe, and South America, providing a stable and diverse tourist flow that laid a solid foundation for the development of Bagan's tourism industry.
**Boosting the Local Economy, Directly Benefiting Residents**
The significant increase in tourist numbers has brought tangible benefits to local residents: vendors, transportation service providers, tour guides, and other related businesses have gained more opportunities, leading to more active community economic activities. Many residents reported a significant increase in holiday sales compared to the same period last year, with tourism consumption becoming a crucial driver of local economic growth. Officials Express Gratitude to Tourists and Expect Continued Improvement in Tourism
U Thein Aung, Chairman of the Shwezigon Pagoda Council, expressed his sincere gratitude for the increase in tourists. He pointed out that the extended holiday created a good opportunity for local pilgrims and foreign tourists to explore cultural heritage, while reiterating the importance of protecting and cherishing the country's historical heritage. U Tin La Oo, Secretary of the Thilaw Myint Lo Temple Council, expressed his excitement about the achievements in cultural and tourism development. He optimistically predicted that with the continued stability of the national situation, Bagan's tourism industry will steadily move towards a higher quality development stage, and extended a sincere invitation to tourists worldwide to explore Bagan's unique charm.
Regarding the future trend of tourist flow, officials analyzed that although the peak tourist season will gradually end before the Thingyan Water Festival in April, and the number of tourists in March may decline slightly, Bagan will still maintain its cultural and tourism vitality during the Myanmar New Year celebrations, continuing to attract domestic and foreign tourists.
