YANGON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 2 million tourists have visited Myanmar's famous archaeological zone Bagan in central Myanmar's Mandalay region in the first 10 months of 2023.
The tourists who visited the archaeological site between January and October this year included over 11,000 international tourists, U Win Aung, deputy director of Bagan's Directorate of Hotels and Tourism, told Xinhua on Tuesday.
The number in the 10 months this year increased, as compared to about 1 million registered in the whole year of 2022, the official said.
Visitors traveled to Bagan for its archaeological significance, featuring thousands of pagodas, temples, and monasteries. The site's global reputation further enhances its appeal, he said.
The local economy in the region heavily relies on tourism, with residents eagerly striving to provide the best possible services to tourists, he added.
With thousands of ancient Buddhist pagodas, temples and monasteries, Bagan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of top tourist attractions in Myanmar. ■