Myanmar’s tourism sector has suffered as growth of tourist arrivals dropped to 1 percent in 2018 compared with 7.1 percent in 2017, according to the Myanmar Times, which cites a World Bank report. The number of western tourist arrivals fell the most, more than offsetting arrivals from Asia according to reports of booking and tour cancellations by western tourists since late 2017. This happened after the news of violence in Rakhine was reported on a global scale, the World Bank said. Tourism accounts for 2.7 percent of the country’s GDP. Officials reckon the tourism industry will continue to come under pressure this year and for as long as the Rakhine crisis remains an issue. To offset the west’s impact on tourism, Myanmar has doubled up its efforts to capture tourists from Asia. Last year, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population relaxed visa requirements for travelers from Japan, Macau, Hong Kong and South Korea. It now also offers visas on arrival to mainland Chinese and Indian tourists. The tourism businesses are hoping to see a 50 percent rise in visitors from eastern countries this year.