Myanmar mulls night markets

YANGON  Myanmar Restaurant Entrepreneurs Association plans to upgrade the Inle Night Market, a tourist attractions located in the northern Shan State.
Work should begin this month, but first discussions will be needed to win the support of local residents and to explain the benefits of upgrading the market.
Eleven Myanmar news channel quoted the association’s Inle Zone chairman, Myo Min Zaw, as saying the market needed to be improved because foreign tourists visited it. However, critics of tourism policy that fails to appreciate local needs suggest the market should be improved for its main users and the vendors.
inside no 2At present, Inle Night Market has only 10 shops that open at 2230. Plans are underway to add restaurants, as well as souvenir shops and regional product shops.
The Inle area caters to mainly local visitors, although there has been an increase in foreign visitors. Promoters claim shops should expand to create more job opportunities for locals and attract foreign tourist revenue.
In addition, there are plans to build a night market in Yangon to attract tourists. Meetings with authorities are ongoing to choose the right site.
The chairman said: “A place for the night market is not fixed yet. My choice would be an area on Strand Road.”
“I have seen riverside roads designated for night markets in other countries. Vendors bring in their own vehicles adapted to sell produce. If the night market is set up on Strand Road, it will attract more tourists and if we plan it correctly the vendors can keep the area clean,” he added.

sourced:ttrweekly.com