doing business in myanmar – what you need to know as a singaporean
Foreign visitors to Mandalay’s Maha Myat Muni Pagoda will be charged K5000 (US$3.25) each starting on July 1, according to the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association.
The pagoda, which has had free admission until now, will use the entrance fee for maintenance and conservation, the group said.
It is one of Mandalay’s most popular tourist destinations, and is visited by about 100 foreign tourists a day. At present, only tourists who take pictures are charged a K1000 fee.
Foreigners now have to pay a zone entrance fee of K10,000 to visit Mandalay Palace, Shwe Kyaung and the Inwa ancient city, but Maha Myat Muni Pagoda is not included.
“Tourist arrivals have been low, so why are they collecting additional fees?” asked U Than Naing, an executive of the Myanmar Tourist Guide Association.
Travel agencies and tourist guides called on the authorities to collect a single fee that includes all tourist sites in Mandalay.
Around 500,000 tourists visited Mandalay in 2018, mostly Chinese. Some came from France, Germany and Italy.
“I don’t blame them for collecting entrance fees, as other countries do it as well, but we need to provide more services and better maintenance,” said travel agency owner U Khin Maung Soe.
Source: Myanmar Times
To see the original article click link here
