U Bein Bridge to have temporary repairs ahead of Thingyan Festival

Mandalay March 23

U Bein Bridge in Mandalay’s Amarapura Township will undergo temporary repairs ahead of the Thingyan Festival, according to Mandalay Region Government.

As visitors usually throng the landmark bridge in the Thingyan Festival, temporary repairs will be carried out with Ks-4 million donated by the board of trustees of Taung Min Gyi Monastery so that the bridge can cope with large crowds of visitors during the Thingyan Festival.

“We need funds for long-term maintenance of the bridge. But for the time being, we’ll carry out temporary repairs to make sure the strength of it during the Thingyan Festival,” said Mandalay Region Resources and Environmental Conservation Minister U Myo Thit.

The Region Government has instructed Amarapura Township authorities to make preparations to ensure safety of visitors to the bridge during the Thingyan Festival. 

‘‘Myanmar Tea Wood Co has carried out renovation works out of its own pocket on the bridge since last March, but after completing around 30 percent of the works, the company has stopped renovation, and the Regional Government has asked the company about it,’’ said minister U Myo Thit.

U Bein Bridge is over 160 years old, and badly torn by the weather. So far five major repairs have been carried out since 2000 and in 2014- 2015 fiscal year, a major repair was carried out at an expense of Ks-13.4 million.

The Myawady Daily

Tour companies do not need permission for visits of tourists to Mogok

Nay Pyi Taw March 17

Licensed tour companies may arrange visit of local and international tourists to urban area in Mogok, Mandalay Region, by seeking permission from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, according to its press release on 14 March.

In the past, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Office of the Commanderin- Chief (Army) submitted the list of security restricted areas to the President Office for the trips of local and foreign-based ambassadors to Myanmar, embassy staff and officials, families, regional staff and foreigners.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has sent the lists to all ministries dated 27-6- 2016. As such, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism informed tour companies on 23 December 2016 about temporary banning for trips to the restricted areas without accepting the plans of the tours for visitors as of 20 December 2016 with the aim of taking security measures for foreigner tourists.

At present, travellers may visit Mogok among the restricted areas by going along Mandalay-Madaya- Thabeikkyin-Mogok road. Therefore, tour companies may submit their arrangements for the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism as of 2 February 2017.

The Myawady Daily

Inland Water Transport warns about danger of strong wind in rivers, creeks

a luxury cruise ship seen in the Ayeyawady River.

Yangon February 27

Inland Water Transport has warned vessel passengers about the danger of strong wind in rivers.

 “In summer, strong wind usually blows in the evening. Especially, vessels operating in the river should be more careful. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement has also issued warning and instructions regarding strong wind. And our department is ensuring both government-owned and private vessels including passenger vessels follow those instructions,” said U Htein Lin, an officer of the Inland Water Transport.

Rain clouds usually gather in March, April and May annually in Myanmar, and frequently followed by strong wind, heavy rains, thunder and lightning, as well as sleeting.

In 2016, because of such phenomena, houses were damaged and trees fell down, killing 44 people and affecting around 150,000 people in 59 townships across the country.

The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement has urged the members of public to cooperate with it to reduce possible damages in the same period this year.

“The most destructive one among those phenomena is the gale that comes down directly from above. Even huge vessels can fall down because of it. This phenomenon is caused by rain clouds, its 

affected area is usually no more than two or three square miles. But it is very dangerous and takes place very quickly,” said the officer.

“Another thing vessels have to be careful is sandbanks. As the rivers and creeks dry up in summer, this has led to sandbanks and as a result waterways can also change,” he added.

The Myawady Daily

Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park to designate as ecotourism site

Yangon February 23

Plans are under way to designate the Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park as an eco-tourism site, according to Union Minister U Ohn Win for Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.

The Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park, with an area of 1,605 square kilometres, is the largest national park in the country. The park consists of the Patolon Reserved Forest and the adjoining Taungdwin Reserved Forest.

Daw Khin San Hlaing, an MP of Pyithu Hluttaw (House of Representatives) asked the Union Minister about the question concerned with implementation of the Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park as a nature-based tourism place and the Union Minister gave the above answer.

“Efforts are being made to implement the Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park as a nature-based tourism site,” said Union Minister U Ohn Win.

‘‘The park has already been designated as an ASEAN heritage and, if it becomes a well-known place among foreign visitors, they will higher interest to visit it. It is necessary to make more conservations as a development area,” said Daw Khin San Hlaing.

‘‘With the aim of boosting collaboration of locals and uncovering the opportunities of nature-based tourism industries there, rehabilitation plan from 2017/2018 to 2026/2027 has been drawn up and the projects are being carried out at this time,” said U Ohn Win.

Alaungdaw Kathapa Pagoda holds two back-to-back festivals each year: one on the full moon of the lunar month of Tabodwe (which falls on February 18, 2011), and the other on the full moon of Tabaung (March 19).

The long rough road to Alaungdaw Kathapa from Monywa is also an attraction and challenge for devotees as they believe that harder and riskier their trip is, the worthier their pilgrimage will be. ‘‘According to Buddhist belief, the cave at Alaungdaw Kathapa Pagoda holds the preserved remains of Ashin Maha Kathapa,” said to be one of Gotama Buddha’s most devoted disciples.

The Myawady Daily

Ko Mauk sunset viewing platform opens in Bagan

Tourists waiting to see the sunset from the top of Shwesandaw Pagoda in Bagan.

Yangon February 21 

Ko Mauk sunset viewing platform, one of the five sites being implemented for sunset viewers in Bagan, was opend as from 18 February, according to the NyaungU Genernal Administration Office.

“Ten-ft Ko Mauk Bank was raised from 10 feet to 17 feet under two steps at a cost of over Ks-50 million,” said U Soe Tint, general administrator of NyaungU District.

As using ancient pagodas as sunset viewing spots for local and foreign visitors can damage the invaluable heritages, region government has been creating man-made higher grounds for this purpose. 

“To reduce the sunset viewers atop the pagodas, free-of-charge sunset viewing platforms have been being built at east O Htain Taung, west O Htain Taung, Nyaung Lat Phat Lake, Thuhtay Lake  and Ko Mauk Lake. At present, the construction process at Ko Mauk Lake has been finished and it was opened for the local and foreign visitors,” said U Soe Tint.

“Our main purpose is to reduce sunset viewing upon the pagodas. After the construction processes are finished, we will make discussions whether the visitors will be allowed to view sunset upon pagodas or not,” he added. As driving of motor vehicles near the pagodas in Bagan can damage the ancient monuments and generate traffic congestion during the tour season, officials are planning to build separate parking spaces at five pagodas, according to the NyaungU District Administration Office.

“After the parking places are built, car driving near or around pagodas will be banned,” said U Soe Tint.

The Myawady Daily

Pyaswe elephant camp attractive to local and foreign visitors by extending visiting time

Visitors observe nature of elephants at the camp.

Mawlaik February 20

Pyaswe elephant camp in Mawlaik, Sagaing Region, extends visiting time for local and foreign tourists from 3 pm to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday in addition to 8 am to 12 noon every day due to increasing number of visitors, said an official of Township Information and Public Relations Department.

The camp is located beside Mawlaik-Pyaungbok- Sawbwa Yayshin road, at Mawku protected public forest, four miles from Mawlaik.

In the past, the elephant camp was attractive to foreigners only. As the camp was opened as the ecotourism area, not only globetrotters but local people around Mawlaik Township pay visit to the camp.

The camp collects K1,000 per head of local visitor and K20,000 per foreigner to take relaxation at the elephant camp. Moreover, the camp gives services of elephant riding to the visitors. They can ride elephants at K3,000 per local visitor and K20,000 per foreigner along the short trip.

Visitors may take photos on feeding elephants and elephant riding. The camp keeps eight adult elephants and nine elephant calves.

Yadanarpon Daily

Bagan ancient heritage zone boundary to be re-established

Foreign visitors seen at an ancient pagoda in Bagan region

Yangon February 13

A combined group comprising members of Myanmar Police Force, Development Committee members and Hotels and Tourism Department personnel will conduct a surprise check on all hotels and motels in Ayeyawady Region day and night on 14 February, according to the Region Government.

‘‘Any unmarried couple or person without holding national registration card or a local staying at a hotel or a guest house is found, both the owner and the guest will meet with punishment,” said Development Affairs Minister U Kyaw Myint.

“We have already warned hotels and guest houses not to accept any unmarried couples as guests. There is the rule in connection with the matter,” he said, adding, “It will be a surprise check. So we cannot say which one will be the first or in which serial order the check will be conducted.”

But a guest house manager said, “We cannot ask any couple to take together with them the documents certifying their marriage. If they both can show their national registration cards, we will have to accept them as guests.”

At the fourth regular session of the Region Hluttaw held on 10 February, MP of Wakhema Constituency Daw Myint Myint San asked whether any legal measures will be taken against unmarried couples staying at the hotels or guest houses on 14 February.

The Myawady Daily

Man Shwe Set Taw pagoda to open all the year round

Yangon February 8

The Man Shwe Set Taw (the Golden Footprints) Pagoda Board of Trustees said the auction will be put up for the construction of a bridge heading to the pagoda in Minbu-Saku Township in Magway Region.

The move aims to enable people make pilgrimage trips to the pagoda all the year round. The board has received suggestion letters for the auction, according to its official.

Currently, the normal route is about three miles from the Mone creek in the lower Settawyar. Pilgrims use temporary bridges during the festival period.

"Most of tourists usually take a boat trip on the Ayeyawady River, visit Shwe Set Taw Pagoda, Magway Myathalon Pagoda and blacksmiths works in Magway and take trishaws around the city," said an offi cial of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.

The Myawady Daily

Hot air balloon service decreases number of migratory birds in Inle Lake

Birds seen in Inle Lake.

Yangon January 26

The number of birds wintering at Inle Lake in southern Shan State appears to be lower during the current cold season compared with past seasons, according to the Inle Lake Wildlife Sanctuary.

U Sein Tun, administrator of the Inle Wildlife Sanctuary said: “Due to noise coming out from the hot air balloon services, the arrival of migratory birds to Inle Lake becomes prominently low this year.”

When collecting the number of migratory birds in Inle Wildlife Sanctuary, the responsible persons knew that the population of the migratory birds in Inle Lake became low.

In December 2015, 11,350 birds of Common Moorhen came to the lake. However, only 1,967 birds came to the lake in December this year.

“When we conduct the census of the birds at the lake, we know that the number of migratory is low obviously. However, the arrival of the migratory birds is normal in other sanctuaries. This is due to the hot air balloon services over the sky of Inle Lake,” said U Sein Tun.

The hot air balloon is launched from North Kyawsar Village, Minchaung Village-tract in Inle region and the visitors can see the natural beauty of the lake from the sky. The fee of the service is US$-330 per head. 

Inle Lake is the second largest lake in Myanmar with an estimated surface area of 44.9 square miles (116 km2), and one of the highest at an elevation of 2,900 feet (880 m). The migratory birds usually come to the lake in December, January and February.

The Myawady Daily

Natpauk elephant camp attractive to local and international tourists

Indaw January 2

Not only globetrotters but homegrown tourists pay visits to Natpauk elephant camp created as the ecotourismdestination, according to the domestic tourism services.

Natpauk elephant camp is located in Indaw Township of Katha District, Sagaing Region. It has beendesignated as the ecotourism  destination for two months.

International tourists visit the elephant camp by linking with international travels and tour companies. The majority of tourists arrive at the elephant camp through waterway trips from the Ayeyawady River.

More than hundreds of tourists visit the elephant camp on public holidays, significant religious days and office holidays.

Visitors may observe elephants from three forest reserves in the camp. Children and adults may ride elephants on short trips. The elephant camp is kept open from 8 am to 4 pm on Sunday and from 8 am to 12 noon on remaining days.

The local and international tourists may view skill demonstration of elephants and their worksite nature.

The elephants from the camp have been undergone training since 2009. More than 200 international tourists and more than 400 local people visited the elephant camp up to December 2016.

Yadanarpon Daily

Tourist number doubles from Mandalay Port to Mingun region in December 2016

Mandalay January 2

Although tourist arrival this month doubles the number of last month from Mandalay Port to Mingun region of Sagaing, no one very important tourist arrives there, said an official of foreigner water transport association (Mandalay).

During the period from October to December yearly is the prime time for the most arrival of globetrotters from Gawwein Port, Mayanchan Port and Chaw Port in Mandalay to Mingun Region of Sagaing Township.

Number of tourists increased to more than 400 per day this month from about 150 per day last month but there was no VIP tourist.

The majority of tourists pay visits to Pahtodawgyi, Myatheindan Pagoda and Mingun Bell in Mingun region in addition to observing pottery industries, bamboo hat industries and wooden slipper industries.

Moreover, they observe watching Irrawaddy dolphins and fishermen in the protection area from Mandalay to Kyaukmyaung region.

In December 2016, a larger number of tourists came from France, followed by Germany, the Netherlands and China.

Yadanarpon Daily

Naga New Year Festival to draw larger number of foreign visitors

Yangon December 15

Naga Traditional New Year Festival is an annual festival of Naga tribes held in Naga Self- Administered Zone in Sagaing Township and is one of few tribal festivals in Myanmar that particularly attracts foreign tourists.

According to bookings so far, local tour operators predict that the festival which will be held in January next year would draw larger number of foreign visitors compared to previous years.

“Until four-five years ago, foreign travellers did not know about that festival. But the festival became popular online two years ago, and foreign visitors started to visit the festival,” said Daw Myint Swe, owner of Myint Travel Agency.

The festival will be held on January 12 to 16. According to tour operators, most of the foreign travellers are from Europe. 

Last year, the self-administered zone which is made up of Lahe, Leshi and Nanyun townships, received 48 foreign travellers. The coming festival is also expected to draw local travellers from four corners of the country.

The Myawady Daily

Ecotourism plan to be developed at Natpauk Elephant Camp

Sagaing December 5

Ecotourism plan will be developed at Natpauk Elephant Camp in the timber extraction area of Myanma Timber Enterprise located in western Katha, a town in Indaw Township, Sagaing Region.

The Natpauk Elephant Camp has opened since 2005. The well-trained calves started offering tourism services to visitors beginning in 2009. The programme attracts international tourists who are keen to observe the nature of elephants, said Dr Aung Thura Soe, manager of the camp.

The natural-based tourism  will also benefit the country’s environment conservation programme.The camp received its first foreign visitors of 126 in 2009. The number of visitors increased to 240 in 2010-2011 fiscal year, 315 in 2011-2012 FY and 516 in 2012-2013 FY.

The camp currently provides  ecotourism services to visitors through 27 skilled elephants, which welcome them to a polite manner. The organizing body grants foreigners to feed the baby elephants and to take photographs with them.

A foreigner needs to pay K20,000 as entrance fees while authorities collect K3,000 per local visitor. It also collects the same amount of fees from the visitors for an elephant ride trip.

To promote the country’s tourism industry, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism expands new destinations for implementing of naturalbased tourism. The ministry predicts that the number of international visitors will grow from last year’s 4.68 million to 6 million in 2016.

Yadanarpon Daily

Bagan cultural region hosts international invitational races

Participants entering finish line in race in Bagan

Nyaung U November 29

The International Invitational  Amateur 10-Km Race, the Mini-Marathon and the Bagan Temple Marathon, jointly organized by Denmark-based Albatros Company and Myanmar Voyages International Tourism Company, was held at the ground, eastern stairway of Htilo-Minlo Pagoda in ancient Bagan cultural region, Mandalay Region, at 6.15 am on 26 November.

Permanent Secretary U Yi Mon of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism launched the marathons.

In the men’s 10-km race, Mr Chainarong Keratiyutwong of Thailand won the first prize, Thurein Lin of Myanmar second and Bo Bo Zaw Chit Hlaing of Myanmar third while Mrs Natalie Kennedy of the US stood first, Mrs. Liuwai Yan of Hong Kong second and Mrs Emily Doss of the US third in the women’s 10-km race.

Mr Cornelius Mallon  of the US secured the first prize, followed by Naing Lin Tun of Myanmar second and Mr Jeroen Steenbergen of the Netherlands third in the men’s mini-marathon event. Mrs Suzanne Mckeen of the Australia snatched the first prize together with Mrs Hayley Bakker of the Netherlands second and Mrs Wannapa Unthong Paul of Thailand third in the women’s mini- marathon event.

In the men’s marathon, Dr David Hellard of the UK won the first prize, Mr Vincent Meers of Belgium second and Mr Yusheng Ni of China third while Mrs Hannah Louise Kirsten Goldring of Denmark bagged the first prize, Mrs Itsuko Tanaka of Japan second and Mrs Ruth Viane of Belgium third in the women’s marathon.

A total of 340 participants from 35 countries competed in the race. Ye Thura Aung (NyaungU)

The Myawady Daily

Hunting poses grave threat to migratory birds in Myanmar

Yangon November 25

Myanmar Birds and Nature Conservation Association will take effective actions to prevent hunting of migratory birds in the country after the number of birds from northern hemisphere that migrate to Myanmar has declined over the past few years because of hunting.

The association will take actions against hunting as of December, said Dr Thein Aung, chairman of the association. Moorhen, swan, Brahminy ducks and so on migrate to Myanmar as well as Vietnam. “Hunters catch migratory birds with the use of pesticides. We will hold talk to raise awareness about it, and will issue notice that hunting them is punishable under the law. We hope these will help protect migratory birds,” he said.

Migratory birds usually migrate to shallow areas in the country including Moe Yun Gyi Sanctuary in Bago, Inle Lake Sanctuary in Shan State and Paleik Lake in Mandalay. 

Chan Chan Ko

The Myawady Daily

More elephants to arrive at Hmawyawgyi elephant camp of eco-tourism base

Visitors riding elephants at Hmawyawgyi elephant camp.

Kyaukdaga November 20

More number of elephants will be added to the Hmawyawgyi elephant camp of eco-tourism region in order to catch attention of local and foreign tourists, according to the Myanmar Timber Enterprise under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.

The elephant camp is located at block-13 in Aingtonkun forest reserve in Kyaukdaga Township, Bago Region, not far from Yangon- Mandalay Expressway.

Visitors may ride elephants from the camp to enjoy natural scenes. They may pose for documentary photos with elephants and feeding them while taking relaxation. Officials of the camp are carrying out growing saplings for reforestation.

Due to growing number of elephant rider tourists, six more elephants will be added to the camp where 16 elephants are being protected.

On 3 November this year, one more elephant camp namely Winkabaw camp was opened as an ecotourism base in eastern Bago Region. At present, six large elephants and two small ones are being protected at the camp. If tourists arrival is larger at the camp, officials will seek assistance from the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism so as to extend the camp establishment.

Yadanarpon Daily

Only licensed hotels to be allowed receiving foreign tourists

Nay Pyi Taw November 3

Foreigner travellers will only be allowed to stay at hotels which have been granted licences from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, and those hotels running without a licence will not be allowed accepting foreigners, said sources.

U Myint Htwe, director of the information department of the ministry, said directives had been issued to ban foreigners from staying at guesthouses running with licences from the development affairs committees concerned, to put up signboards at those guesthouses featuring only in Myanmar language and to mention the signboards of hotels and guesthouses permitted to receive foreigners in English language.

For any failure to follow the instructions, the punishment is for a three years’ imprisonment or a fine of K50,000 or both under the prescribed law.

The Ministry Hotels and Tourism has issued licences to 1,371 hotels with 53,000 rooms across the country.

It is expected that about 5.5 million foreign tourists will come to Myanmar this financial year (2016-2017) Till 1 November, more than 2.4 million tourists had visited the country, according to the ministry figures (178) 

Yadanarpon Daily

H & T Ministry to attract more visitors to Reed Lake

Reed Lake, the landmark lake of Chin State.

Yangon September 21

Ministry of Hotels and Tourism will take steps to attract more local and foreign travellers to Reed Lake, the landmark lake of Chin State.

Located at an altitude of 2,966 feet near the Myanmar-India border, the heart-shaped lake mainly attracts Mizo people, mostly students, fromMizoram of India. The water in the lake usually turns muddy during Christmas annually and the situation lasts one to two weeks, according to locals.

“Ecotourism should be promoted at places like Reed Lake in Chin State. Mainly, transportation needs to be improved. And we need more hotels in Chin State,” said manager Ko Nay Soe Aung of a tour company.

Apart from Reed Lake which draws over 1,000 foreign travellers annually, Mt. Natma has also become a popular ecotourism site to local and foreign travellers.

“I think we might need foreign investment in order to develop ecotourism here. The Chin State Government should take a lead role in this,” said local U Mone Htan.

The lake is accessible by either Hakha-Falam-Reedkawdhar road or Kalay-Tiddim-Reedkawdhar road from Mandalay. Previously, only jeeps are suitable for the road, but now luxury cars can also drive on the road.

The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism plans to draft tourism master plan in cooperation with concerned departments, tourism organization and experts, and will also design ecotourism guidelines and regulations. 

The Myawady Daily

Shwedagon Pagoda welcomes nearly 10,000 foreigners everyday

Yangon June 6

Shwedagon Pagoda, the most famous pagoda in Myanmar, is visited by approximately 10,000 foreign tourists per day amidst the annually increasing number of arrivals, said an official of the pagoda board of trustees.

During the first four months of 2016, more than 200,000 tourists visited the pagoda that earned over Ks-8 million from entrance fees per day. Entrance fee to Shwedagon Pagoda is Ks-8,000 per tourist. 

The yearly increase in the arrivals to the pagoda is a result of Myanmar’s greater transparency in international relations and the global interest in Buddhism.

The pagoda board of trustees is promoting security and historical presentations alongside the increasing visitor population. Similarly, visitors are not allowed to wear blouse with wide and deep hives, short pants and skirts while visiting the pagoda.

The pagoda board of trustees is hiring decent clothes and longyi free of charge for the convenience of the visitors.

A total of 517,488 tourists visited Shwedagon Pagoda in 2015. Being an ancient religious edifice much revered by Buddhists, the pagoda is a must for many foreigners to visit when they are in Myanmar.

The largest number of foreign visitors comes in the cold season. The number declines normally in summer and rainy seasons.

The Myawady Daily

Yaybyantaung Waterfall attracts interest of visitors in PyinOoLwin Township

PyinOoLwin May 16

The Yaybyantaung natural waterfall which is more beautiful than famous Dattawchaing, Pwegauk and Peikchinmyaung waterfalls has emerged in PyinOoLwin Township for attracting the interest of both local and foreign visitors.

The Yaybyantaung natural waterfall is located five miles from the National Kandawgyi Gardens, near Hsingaunglay, Shwemyinthar, Peinnegon and Shwethin villages. In the past, the villages were inaccessible to the waterfall in the rainy season.

The waterfall is formed with eight large waterfalls and small ones. Each waterfall is located in 100-200 feet distance and each level is 30-50 feet high.

Timber was extracted from the thick forests near the waterfall in the past. So the region faces deforestation. Actually, the total deforestation will cause extinction of natural springs as well as waterfall.

As such, local authorities, departmental officials and social organizations designated the 1,600 acres of land where the waterfall is located as the natural area. They are now trying to thrive trees for the forests.

The local authorities will not allow any shops, vendors and living of humans near the natural waterfall.

In the near future, people can take relaxation at the beautifully natural waterfall along the road thanks to concerted efforts of departmental officials.

The Myawady Daily