The Myanmar government has expanded its list of off-limits tourist destinations following the death of a German citizen in Shan State.

Areas of Shan, Rakhine, Kachin, Chin, Sagaing and Yangon are on the updated no-travel list from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. The government had already taken steps to steer tourists from active conflict zones. In August the military evacuated a group of foreigners from the town of Hsipaw, a popular trekking spot. The tourist who was killed on November 26 had been motorbiking in the same township when he ran over a land mine. The incident led to an inquiry by the German embassy.

Despite the recent setbacks, Myanmar’s tourism sector appears to be picking up, especially with Asian visitors. More than 1.5 million people visited this year, according to official data, a 40 percent increase from 2018. The rise coincides with a relaxing of visa requirements and on-arrival visas for a batch of new countries in both Asia and Europe.

However, recent fighting between the Myanmar army (Tatmadaw) and members of the Northern Alliance of ethnic armed groups threatens both tourism and border trade with China. Following the Hsipaw incident, the government also tightened restrictions on conflict-adjacent areas in Rakhine and Chin State, where the Tatmadaw has tangled with the Arakan Army separatist group.