Tourists worry over recent crimes in Yangon

Published on Friday, 09 November 2012 17:09

Some tourists have been expressing their concerns over recent crimes in Yangon, according to local tour guides and businessmen.
 “My friend from England asked me whether it’s true about the recent crimes in Yangon. He looked worried. Foreigners think that Myanmar is very safe. Because of these group violence and criminal offences, they are worried that Myanmar will become like Malaysia or Bangkok,” said Kyaw San, the managing director of Crown Education.
Last month, Yangon saw an alarming rise in the number of homicides, attacks on people and hit-and-run accidents that happened during the night and early in the morning and involve sports-car-racing gangs.
  “As they know that our country is safe, they have been a little surprised and worried over these incidents. But we clearly explained to them that the pagodas and places like Kandawgyi, which are frequently visited (by tourists) in the evenings, are safe,” said Chit Chit Zaw, a German tour guide.
The Eleven Media reported earlier that a special enforcement unit of “Tourist Police” will be formed by Myanmar police force and the Ministry of Home Affairs before the end of this year. The tourist police will be tasked to ensure the security and safety of foreign tourists.
Myanmar’s tourist industry has been booming after recent reforms in the country.
It has received over 420,000 tourists from January 1 to November 4, according to statistics from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.