Tag: Myanmar

Fondly caressing the back of a large Burmese python resting on his lap, 69-year-old Buddhist monk Wilatha is trying to play a part in saving hundreds of snakes that might otherwise be killed or destined for the black market. Wilatha has created a refuge for snakes ranging from vipers to cobras to pythons at the Seikta Thukha TetOo monastery in the commercial city of Yangon. Government agencies and residents of the city including the fire department, have been bringing captured snakes to the monk since the launch of the snake refuge, five years back. “Once people catch snakes, they will ... Read more

India’s budget carrier IndiGo is planning services to China, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Myanmar among other countries as part of its efforts to expand its international network. The carrier also has plans to start services to Turkey and Commonwealth of Independent States countries. IndiGo also plans to add frequencies in existing routes. IndiGo has also announced plans to fly from Pune to Male in Maldives soon, which is expected to start the service by the end of March. IndiGo currently operates international flights to 12 countries including Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Oman, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and ... Read more

Three more villages in Mogok Township in Mandalay Region of Myanmar will be opened to tourism due to the rising number of visitors to the area, officials of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism said. Starting this month, tourists will now be allowed to visit Kyauk Pya That, Pan-lin and Bernard villages along the old Mandalay-Matta-Singu and Mogok road, which has been repaired, said U San Yu, regional assistant director of the ministry. Gem Market in Magok “We have to consider tourists’ convenience and safety. After reviewing all the factors, we decided to expand tourism in Mogok,” said U San ... Read more

Sittwe Port, Myanmar Infrastructure development works at Sittwe Port in Myanmar, constructed with India’s assistance, is getting ready for operation. It was informed by the Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and Chemical & Fertilizer Mansukh L Mandaviya. The Minister said that the construction of Sittwe Port is part of the Kaladan Multi Modal Transit Transport Project. Its objective is to create a multi-modal sea, river and road transport corridor for shipment of cargo from the eastern ports of India to Myanmar through Sittwe port as well as to North-Eastern part of India via Myanmar. Once fully operational, the ... Read more

Long ride enthusiasts can have a really long road journey that crosses two countries.  A 1360 km long highway is coming up connection India, Myanmar and Thailand. India is undertaking construction of two sections of this Trilateral Highway in Myanmar, which include 120.74 km Kalewa-Yagyi road section and 69 bridges along with the approach road on the 149.70 km Tamu-Kyigone-Kalewa (TKK) road section. The works on both these sections were awarded on Engineering, Procurement and Construction mode in May 2018 for Kalewa-Yagyi section and November 2017 for the TKK section. The works are expected to be completed within three years ... Read more

Here’s some good news for Indian travellers to Myanmar as the country has decided to provide visa on arrival for Indian tourists. The information was announced by President Ram Nath Kovind as he began his five-day visit to the country. Myanmar has announced that the visa-on-arrival facility will be provided to those Indian tourists who are entering the country through their international airports, Nay Pyi Taw, Yangon, and Mandalay. The President said that residents of India’s Northeast region have particularly welcomed and are beginning to reap the benefits of the Land-border Crossing Agreement signed on May 11, 2018. The landmark Land ... Read more

Zalon Mountain Myanmar is planning to upgrade a mountain in the area of forest reserve in Banmauk, northwestern Sagaing region, as an eco-tourism site to attract more international visitors, as per local media reports. The upgrading of Zalon Mountain situating 19.2 km northwest of Banmauk is part of the efforts of the Forest Department to boost the country’s smokeless industry by extending the new tourist destination with proper services, said a tourism department official. Zalon Mountain Zalon Mountain is situated 927 meters above sea level and the surrounding mountains are over 600 to 900 meters high. There is a the ... Read more

Kakku Pagoda After five years, Myanmar is replacing its tourism branding — ‘Let the Journey Begin’ — with “Be Enchanted”. The new brand portrays Myanmar as a friendly, charming, mystical and as-yet-undiscovered destination. “Be Enchanted” tagline is as much a promise as it is an invitation. It’s realization. It’s a memory. It’s a moment. The word ‘enchanted’ holds within it the true heart of Myanmar,” said a statement from the tourism department. The new brand was developed on the basis of the current awareness of Myanmar as a tourist destination and a comparison with a range of other destinations. A ... Read more

Meiktila-Taung Gyi Elephant Camp Tourists from China, Japan and South Korea will be able to travel to Myanmar without a visa from October 1, 2018 onwards. The new approach, which aims to encourage tourism to Myanmar, was announced by Vice President U Henry Van Thio at the Myanmar Tourism Conference. The visa free entry will be introduced as a one-year trial. Myanmar currently does not require tourist visas for travellers from eight fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The inclusion of the three new countries is another ... Read more

Shwe Oo Min Cave, Pagoda U Henry Van Thio, Second Vice President of Myanmar, has reiterated the need for development of community-based tourism industry in Danu Self-Administered Zone in eastern Shan state, as reported by Myanmar News Agency. The Second Vice President, who is also the chairman of the Central Committee for the Development of the National Tourism Industry, stressed the need for necessary preparation for providing better tourism services in view of the recent decision of the government to relax visa rules for Asian travellers starting from October. In view of increasing inbound tourists, the government has decided to ... Read more

Myanmar Vice President U Henry Van Thio has urged cooperation among tourism organizations to promote the tourism industry, as per reports from Global New Light of Myanmar. In the meeting of the Central Committee for the Development of National Tourism Industry, held on Friday, 3rd August 2018, the Vice President reiterated the need to provide high standard amenities to the tourists who visit the country. Accommodation, safety, transportation, food etc. has to be taken care of. U Henry Van Thio, Myanmar Vice President “We should try to promote traditional customs and cuisines of ethnic minorities in the country”, added the ... Read more

Myanmar will grant free visa allowances to Chinese, South Korean and Japanese nationals from August 1 onward in a bid to promote eco-tourism, according to U Ohn Maung, Minister of Hotel and Tourism, during an economic seminar organised last week by the Thai embassy in Yangon and the Thai Business Association in Myanmar. The initiative has taken considering the decline in visitors from the West, who have cut short travel to Myanmar in view of the refugee crisis in Rakhine. The ministry of tourism hopes the free visa to Asian countries could compensate the downfall in tourists from the western ... Read more

The Myanmar Department of Meteorology and Hydrology has raised a red alert for flash floods, landslides and storm surges as a tropical depression makes landfall. The Met department has warned that a deep depression is occurring over middle-east part of the Bay of Bengal and the cyclone storm will land in coastal areas of Rakhine state within the next 12 hours. Strong winds of up to 80 kilometres per hour could hit some coastal areas, and storm surges as high as 16 feet could pummel the shores, it said. The bad weather the country is experiencing is caused by a strong ... Read more

In an initiative to boost tourism prospective in the country, Myanmar tourism authorities has decided to develop one more ancient limestone cave, Hpa Baung, located at Kyaikmaraw township in Mon state as an ecotourism zone inside one year. The Hpa Baung limestone cave conserved by the Archaeology, National Museum and Library Department is one of the largest natural of its kind in Mon state. The authorities also plan to develop a spring in that area in harmony with the ecotourism spot. According to forestry department, Hpa Baung and the surrounding areas are expected to be extended to 446 acres as ... Read more

Myanmar Travellers from Myanmar to India have reportedly gone up by more than 10% last year when compared to 2016. The free visa to Myanmar citizens was declared by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his visit to Myanmar in last September and the free visa policy was initiated that month itself. Most travellers from Myanmar are reportedly visiting Bodh Gaya. Around 30,000 pilgrims used to visit annual Bodh Gaya festival every year and now more than 50,000 pilgrims from Myanmar came to attend the festival in 2017. According to ministry reports, Myanmar travellers are also coming for medical tours ... Read more