Myanmar

More than 37 million people, 68% of Myanmar's population of more than 54 million, are multidimensionally poor or at risk of multidimensional poverty, according to a United Nations Development Programme report. Nearly 18 million (32.6%) are poor and more than 19 million (35.5%) are vulnerable, based on a household survey of nearly 7,500 people in 2025. Rakhine State is the worst affected, with about 1.66 million residents facing the most intense poverty, whilst Sagaing Region has about 2.38 million people in less severe poverty and Ayeyawady Region ranks third. The report cited low education, insecure jobs, rising prices, natural hazards and armed conflict as drivers

Malaysia's Prime Minister stated that his government undertake “whatever possible” to support Myanmar's reintegration into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, after meeting Min Aung Hlaing during his 2-day visit to Malaysia on 7-8 Oct 2026. He also pledged to keep working with Myanmar on repatriating Myanmar nationals from Malaysia, and thanked Min Aung Hlaing for accepting the return of 10,493 so far. Min Aung Hlaing stated that Myanmar nationals held in Malaysian immigration detention centres would be brought back as soon as possible, with navy ships to be dispatched, and that he would formally request Malaysia's permission

The United States has begun direct talks with Myanmar's military-backed government, reversing efforts to isolate it after the 2021 coup, according to 7 current and former US officials and others familiar with the outreach. The US Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research joined talks with Min Aung Hlaing in Nay Pyi Taw on 15-16 Sep 2026, the highest-level contact since the coup, aimed at securing the release of a detained American businessman. The outreach has focused on shutting down scam centres targeting Americans and could extend to access to Myanmar's rare-earth deposits

Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned citizens against travelling to Myanmar, especially to areas where forced labour camps may be located, as the ministry has few channels to provide assistance in the country. Myanmar carries a yellow (moderate risk) rating on Taiwan's four-tier travel alert system, the lowest in use there, whilst Rakhine State and other areas are under a red warning, the highest level, partly because of military airstrikes. The East Asian and Pacific Affairs Department Director General stated that its Myanmar representative office has almost no channels to provide assistance or rescue in conflict areas

Min Aung Hlaing stated on 5 Oct 2026 that domestic instability was a major factor hampering economic growth, at a meeting with ministers and chief ministers in Nay Pyi Taw. He blamed armed resistance groups for destroying infrastructure, which he said had depleted resources and held back development, and sanctions for restricting access to international markets and hurting manufacturing and trade

Myanmar began rolling blackouts on 5 Oct 2026 to reduce the risk of plant shutdowns and system breakdowns as El Niño heat lifted consumption, according to the Ministry of Electricity and Energy. Yangon has been split into 2 zones, each receiving 4 hours of power in alternating blocks, whilst industrial zones on LNG-plant power lines and key government departments keep 24-hour supply. Officials have warned that the outages could last at least 8 months, until the 2027 rainy season, as hydropower reservoir levels fall

All 88 hotels, motels and guesthouses in Bagan's ancient cultural zone in Nyaung-U Township, Mandalay Region, are fully booked from 24 Oct 2026 for the Thadingyut holiday period of 24-26 Oct 2026, according to the Bagan branch of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism. Visitors began booking online in the first week of Oct. Thadingyut arrivals typically reach about 150,000 per day, mostly day-trippers

The Myanmar Tourism Bank has launched MMQR payments using MTB Pay

The Philippines has noted that it is “monitoring developments and expresses concern over the attacks which resulted in destruction, loss of lives and injuries to those affected” after an airstrike killed 50 civilians in Rakhine State

Floods and landslides in Dawei District, in southern Myanmar's Tanintharyi Region, killed at least 40 people by 30 Sep 2026, according to local rescue groups. Landslides hit 25 places in the district, and 15 bridges and at least 260 homes were damaged or destroyed. Local groups reported that Myanmar military aircraft bombed Yaewaing Village on 30 Sep 2026 and Pi Taing Village on 1 Oct 2026, with no casualties reported

Min Aung Hlaing toured the site of a planned replica of Yangon's Laik Khone timber assembly hall on Pyay Road to inspect progress in what some call a vanity project. The original hall, completed in 1956, was demolished in 1990

Myanmar sent a delegation led by the head of its embassy in Manila to the ASEAN Tourism Ministers' Retreat in Manila on 29 Sep 2026. The retreat discussed the ASEAN Sustainable and Resilient Tourism Investment Outlook, an initiative to mobilise sustainable tourism investment and strengthen destination resilience

Min Aung Hlaing will visit Malaysia in October 2026, according to the Malaysian Government spokesperson and Communications Minister, as the 2 countries continue talks on returning refugees and displaced people. Malaysia deported nearly 1,500 Myanmar nationals on 29 Sep 2026 on 3 ships sent by the Myanmar government and plans to send back another 3,524 people in the second phase of its repatriation programme

The UN expressed alarm on 29 Sep 2026 at reports that a Myanmar military air strike on a market in Kyauktaw town in Rakhine State on 28 Sep 2026 killed 50 people and wounded at least 58, according to the Arakan Army, with a local aid worker confirming the numbers. A UN spokesperson said continuing violence in Rakhine meant conditions did not currently exist for the safe return of refugees and displaced people to Myanmar, and the UN Human Rights Chief's office said the casualty count was expected to rise

The Vice President said Myanmar had been easing visa-related procedures for international visitors, participating in international tourism fairs, organising fam tours and promoting tourism through digital technologies, at a World Tourism Day 2026 ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw on 27 Sep 2026 held under the theme "Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism"

The “Myanmar Traditional Festival Market” will be held at the Yangon Convention Centre from 6-8 Nov, showcasing cultural heritage, foods, handicrafts and performing arts

The Myanmar Tourism Federation will launch a new Digital Tourism Marketing Course in Oct, in collaboration with the Yangon Region Directorate of Hotles and Tourism

A China-Myanmar tourism development seminar and Yunnan culture and tourism showcase was held at the China Cultural Centre in Yangon on 22 Sep 2026, co-organised by Yunnan's Department of Culture and Tourism, the Yangon China Cultural Centre and the China-Myanmar Economic Cooperation and Development Promotion Association, themed "Building a Corridor with Tea, Towards a Future of Cultural Tourism". It aimed to increase bilateral tourism cooperation ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival

Myanmar's Domestic Pilgrimage and Tourism Services Association issued nine safety guidelines on 21 Sep 2026 for passengers travelling on domestic pilgrimage vehicles, including: Carrying national registration cards or police-issued travel recommendation letters Tour operators holding valid regional tourism licences with recommendations from the Domestic Pilgrimage and Tourism Operators Association (DPTOA) Reporting unusual incidents along travel routes to member checkpoints Carrying photocopies of membership cards and business licences on vehicles Ensuring passengers' phones do not contain unlawful photographs or videos Departures from 5am onwards, with vehicles returning to assembly points by 8pm or 10pm Guides arranging taxis or Grab rides for passengers' return home, and following up once they reach home

Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing said in an interview published on 23 Sep 2026 that he has been "extremely lenient" towards Aung San Suu Kyi. He stated the possibility of an amnesty "depends on her", but hinted the situation may change if grounds for reconsideration emerge

Third-country tourists meeting certain requirements are now permitted to enter and leave Myanmar via the Tachilek-Mae Sai border checkpoint in Shan State under package tours

Around 30,000 sky lanterns will be released in Bagan during the Thadingyut holiday season, alongside three to four times the usual number of oil lamp offerings at major sites including the Ananda and Shwezigon pagodas, according to the patron of the Bagan Hotel Zone. Advance hotel bookings for Thadingyut are already flowing in, with several hotels fully booked and overall occupancy across the Bagan region above 50%. Authorities are focusing on security measures, including around the Popa area, which is hosting its annual Bo Taw Spirit festival drawing visitors who then travel on to Bagan. A Bagan-based tour operator said visitor numbers in September 2026 had dropped compared with last year amid online safety rumours about the region, though Thadingyut bookings are expected to exceed last year's

Myanmar's Ministry of Culture, Hotels and Tourism extended visa-on-arrival for tourists from China and India arriving by air for a third one-year trial period, running from 30 Aug 2026 to 29 Aug 2027. Myanmar welcomed 701,141 foreign visitors in the first 8 months of 2026, +7% YoY, with Thailand and China the largest source markets

Myanmar's Union Minister for Culture, Hotels and Tourism proposed organising fam trips for Vietnamese travel companies and media representatives to visit Myanmar's tourist destinations, at a coordination meeting on promoting tourism between Myanmar and Vietnam held at the Ministry on 14 Sep 2026. The Honorary Consul of the Vietnamese Embassy in Myanmar, together with representatives from Vietnamese travel companies and Vietnam Airlines, discussed ways to raise awareness among Vietnamese travellers and encourage more visits

A Japanese House of Representatives member visiting Myanmar said he would work to resume tourism between Myanmar and Japan, at a meeting with the Pyithu Hluttaw Speaker in Nay Pyi Taw on 14 Sep 2026. He said more than 100,000 Myanmar workers are currently in Japan, and that Japan is recruiting foreign workers under its Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) system

Cambodia has pledged to support “Myanmar’s resumption of active participation in ASEAN” following Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to Cambodia

Myanmar's military-backed government said its UN ambassador, Kyaw Moe Tun, who has rejected the 2021 coup, is occupying the office illegitimately, ahead of a UN Credentials Committee decision on whether to replace him. The Foreign Ministry said Kyaw Moe Tun was dismissed from civil service effective 27 Feb 2021 for treason and colluding with "terrorist organisations", and accused him of misusing state funds and property including the Myanmar UN Mission's premises in New York. The Credentials Committee, whose members include China, Russia and the United States, typically announces its decision around Nov

Cambodia and Myanmar signed 4 agreements and cooperation documenrts on taxation, investment, culture, media and information, during the official visit of Min Aung Hlaing to Phnom Penh