CNI News

4 Nov 2022

To attract domestic and foreign tourists, an ethnic traditional food fair will be organized in Shan State (North) in November, Chairman U Zaw Zaw of the Shan State (North) Hoteliers Association told the CNI.

The ethnic traditional food fair is the first of its kind to be organized in Shan State (North) and is an effort to attract tourists, whose arrivals to the area have been falling since the outbreak of COVID-19 and the political crisis.

U Zaw Zaw told the CNI, “In the past, the tourism industry focused on foreign tourists. As their arrivals have dropped for some time, the fair is also targeted at domestic tourists while foreign tourists are also welcomed. In 2019, our hoteliers association organized an exhibition of traditional costumes, traditions and utensils of ethnic groups on the Union Day. At that time, most of the visitors were Chinese tourists.

An archway to Lashio.

Myaungzi, Wa, Lahu, Lisu, Kokant, Palaung, Shan and Kachin ethnic groups took part in the exhibition. All these ethnic groups can also be found in Yunnan Province, China. So, the wanted to study the traditions of them in comparison with the traditions of their ethnic groups. The exhibition was very successful. The food fair will also be a success, if foreign tourists visit the fair. I think a lot of domestic tourists will come to the fair.”
Although the date for the fair has not been fixed, the fair will be organized for only one day at the Lashio Townhall, he added.

Ten ethnic groups including Shan, Kachin, Lisu, Bamar, Myaungzi, Wa, Palaung, Lahu, Manwun (Bamar) and Kokant will participate in the fair and each ethnic group will prepare at least three kinds of traditional food for 100 people to serve visitors.

Deputy Director U Sithu Kyaw of Shan State Directorate of Hotels and Tourism told the CNI, “When we travel to ethnic areas, we want to try their local foods. When we travel to Shan State, we want to try traditional Shan foods. We usually ask local people what kind of local food is unique. In Shan State (North), their local traditional foods are unique. So, we need to make them known to people from other regions and states. Although such fairs are not popular in our country, gastronomy travels and tourism are popular in other countries. People travel and try local foods. It is a chance for people who are interested in local traditional foods.”

Tourists in Hsipaw in Shan State.

He added that he had informed tour companies and operators of the fair and will invite domestic and foreign tourists to study local traditional foods.

Prior to the pandemic, Shan State (North), especially Hsipaw, was a popular destination for domestic and foreign tourists.

Plans are underway to arrange package tours to waterfalls in the areas and the tourism industry will be able to make some progress when the political situation has changed positively, according to the hoteliers association.

The Tazaungdaing Festival has been scheduled for 4th to 7th November and entertainment, free meals and hot-air balloon launches have been arranged.