Myanmar sets heritage site standards

YANGON : Myanmar Restaurant Association says the government will allow investors to build hotels and restaurants near heritage sites but they will have to comply with a strict set of standards.
The association secretary, Myaw Myat Moe, told local media that hotels and inns will be permitted to open around villages near heritage preservation sites if they comply with strict standards set up by the government.
“We will design new hotel buildings to conform with the traditions of a particular zone and pay particular attention to waste disposal management,” he said.
To comply with the standard, restaurant owners will need to upgrade facilities and building designs in line with the area’s cultural heritage, otherwise they will not be able to continue to trade near heritage sites.
Architecture and the exterior look of buildings will need to comply with standards that will ensure new buildings blend with the cultural and traditional environment.
Hotels and inns near Halin, Beikthano Myo (Vishnu City) and Sri Ksetra, located around Pyu ancient city, will need to be upgraded by November when the tourist peak season begins. That does not give owners much time to comply with the standard.
The move follows UNESCO’s decision to add three sites in Myanmar to its World Heritage List on 22 June.
Ministry of Hotels and Tourism expects that once facilities are upgraded the historical sites will be able to attract more tourists. The ministry is targeting more than 3 million foreign tourists, this year, up from about 1.05 million in 2012 and 2.04 million last year.
The industry has seen spectacular growth since the government launched its economic reforms three years ago, eclipsing most other industries. It generated revenues of USD534 million in 2012 and USD926 million last year.
Officially, the country has six five-star, 17 four-star, 83 three-star, 116 two-star and 102 one-star hotels as well as ministry-approved 599 hotels, motels and inns.
The combined capacity is 38,722 rooms, but more hotels are in the construction pipeline that should end the room shortage within two to three years.
About 1,000 more rooms should come on line by 2015.
Nay Pyi Taw, Mandalay, Bagan and Inlay regions have seen an influx of tourists and this is encouraging foreign companies to invest in the hotel sector, first in Yangon where development is mainly in the five- and four-star category, led by Singaporean investors.

Sourced: ttrweekly