(Mizzima) – The general manager of the Chatrium Hotel in Rangoon, owned by the Bangkok Bank group, says business is taking off in Burma, with room rates more than doubling since 2008.
Of the 25,000 hotel rooms across Burma, 8,000 are in Rangoon and only about 3,000 are three- to four-star hotel rooms, he told The Bangkok Post in an article on Monday. Room rates have risen sharply, averaging $100 now from $40 in 2008, he said.
In 2011, nearly 400,000 tourists visited Burma and many faced room shortages. Around 500,000 are expect this year, because of more tourist promotion and international articles about Burma’s step-by-step move to democratic reforms.
He told the newspaper that many hotel investors are returning, including the Thailand-based Central and Amari hotel groups. Other global names such as Marriott, Sheraton and Shangri-La also have a presence in the country, and more hotel groups are evaluating business conditions.
