Myeik tourism hits 17-year high

Origin

Myat Su Naing
Myanmar Eleven May 29, 2015 1:00 am

 

Photo: tropixtraveler.com

Snorkelling resorts in the Myeik Archipelago attracted around 2,000 foreign visitors in the first four months of this year, according to the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism (Myeik Branch).

Last year, tourism revenue in the area hit a 17-year high, Ks 57.99 million (US$57,991).

Entry fees to Kawthoung District and Myeik District are $50 and $80, respectively, for local tour agencies. For foreigners, the fees are $100 and $150, plus an additional $20 per day for tourists who stay more than five days.

An official at the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism said: "The rate of tourist inflow is higher than that during the same period last year."

Myeik is one of destinations that helped draw visitors to Myanmar and boost tourism revenue for the country. The Myanmar government recently allowed foreigners to travel freely in the archipelago in Kawthoung District, except in restricted areas. Last December, a total of 601 tourists visited the archipelagos in Myeik Township. Most visitors came from France, Germany, Switzerland, Thailand and China.

Foreigners can visit the waters around Myeik by yacht and motorboat. Yacht companies provide two travel packages - snorkelling and adventure. Local yacht companies have cooperated with their foreign counterparts to provide services to the international visitors.

The revenue generated from visitors to Myeik Archipelago in the last five months is Ks39 million.

The owners of travel agencies said the region - a group of over 800 islets - needs to be preserved, and blast fishing, logging, building new villages and littering should be banned.

Due to insufficient infrastructure, a week-long stay in Myeik could cost around $1,000 per person.