Bagan’s balloons a top attraction

BAGAN If Bagan loses its hot air balloons over fears they could damage pagoda spires, literally thousands of tourists will need to find another way to admire Bagan famous sunrise vistas.
Hot air balloon operators have been told they will not be able to overfly the pagodas in case they accidently dislodge decorations attached to the tip of pagoda spires.
Authorities say they will ban flights over the pagodas when the tourist season resumes in October. Hot Air balloons are grounded annually, March to October, during the heavy monsoon season for safety reasons.
Data from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism shows that 17,802 tourists rode hot air balloons in Bagan in 2014, up 56% from 11,362 in 2013.
inside no 2Foreign tourists are attracted to hot air balloon trips as it makes it easier to enjoy the sunrise vistas over Bagan’s pagodas. They are the top tourist draw despite the price tag of around USD300 per person for a one-hour trip.
Hot air balloon services started in 1999, and there are now three travel agencies offering trips.
Currently, there are 12 balloons owned by Balloons Over Bagan, which is run by Shwelaydagon Travels and Tours, six balloons owned by Myanmar Ballooning Company, and three balloons owned by Golden Express Tours.
The Ministry of Culture has asked the President’s Office to stop the hot-air balloons from flying low over the city’s fabled pagodas in case they cause damage. The authority said it will set flight paths that do not pass over the pagodas.
But their appeal is the ability to quietly float tourists right over the pagodas in close proximity. Operators say there has not been a single case of damaging pagoda spires during flights.
The licences for balloon crews are issued by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and the testing is carried out by the Department of Civil Aviation under the Ministry of Transport.
Hotels and Tourism Minister, U Htay Aung, said authorities have to ensure that historic buildings are not damaged when balloons overfly the pagodas.
However, critics point out that more substantial damage is being caused to Bagan’s historic sites by heavy traffic such as tour buses and trucks that disturb the foundations of historical buildings.
Bagan is an ancient city located in Mandalay Region The historical park spans about 42 sq km (16 miles) and is peppered with more than 3,000 temples, built between the 9th and 11th centuries, when some 55 Buddhist kings ruled the Bagan Dynasty.
The government has already nominated Bagan as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and could be included on the prestigious list within the next few years.
According to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, the region has 144 hotels, motels and inns with nearly 6,000 rooms.

sourced:ttrweekly.com