Pagoda cashes in tourism

 The cost of enjoying the panoramic view from Mandalay Hill will increase 1 October, the Board of Trustees announced earlier this week.

Foreign tourists visiting Mandalay Hill will be required to pay a 2,000 kyat entrance fee instead of an earlier camera use fee that most tourists avoided paying.

Tourists already pay a separate fee to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to visit a selection of tourist attractions in and around Mandalay.

Local media quoted the board chairman, U Thein Tun, as saying fees go directly toward the upkeep of the pagoda.

“It is not the same as the fee paid to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. This fee replaces the old camera use fee,” he said.

“Most tourists don’t want to pay the camera fee, even though we have to arrange numerous services for foreigners … we get nothing in return. This new charge is designed to raise more funds to renovation the pagoda and beautify the hill.”

The board also announced that it has “posted security guards on the pagoda platform and security cameras so tourists and pilgrims will be safe during their visit”.

The next plan is to clear vendors at vantage points to improve sightseeing at the pagoda, which offers stunning views of Mandalay, the Ayeyarwady River, Sagaing hills and the Shan plateau.

Myanmar Tourist Guides Association Mandalay branch secretary, U Win Zaw Oo, said the fee issue had resulted in some “clashes” between trustees and tour guides.

He said that tourists already pay US$10 for a Ministry of Hotels and Tourism ticket that grants them entry to a range of sites around Mandalay, including Mandalay Hill, and charging extra could hurt the city’s image.

“We don’t think the trustees should be collecting another entrance fee like this for just one pagoda,” he said.

A new board of trustees was installed at Mandalay Hill in September 2012. It has since carried out repairs on the Pagoda and evicted illegal shops.

Since its appointment it has raised Kyat 600 million generated over the past year.

Mandalay, the second largest city after Yangon, is a major top destination and has attracted the attention of airlines that are now offering direct flights from Bangkok and Singapore. The city serves a gateway for overland tours to Bagan or river cruises.

Thai Air Asia offers a daily flight from its base at Don Mueang Airport Bangkok. THAI Smile and Bangkok Airways operate four flights weekly each on the route out of Suvarnabhumi Airport Bangkok.

There are also international flights from Singapore to Mandalay.

Sourced: ttrweekly