CNI News
6 Dec 2022
Electricity should be supplied to hotels in busy tour destinations in the same way as factories are supplied with electricity, tour operators and hoteliers told the CNI.
Currently, electricity is supplied to the public in a rationing system in some regions but some areas do not have access to the electricity throughout the day or night. Therefore, hotels have to resort to generators and have difficulties, Chairman U Zaw Weit of the Myanmar Hoteliers Association (Bagan Zone) told the CNI.
A generator running during blackouts.
He told the CNI, "As fuel prices have risen to MMK 12,000 and 13,000 per gallon, it is not profitable for us. Generators used in hotels consume four gallons of fuel per hour. So, we have to spend MMK 50,000 per hour. We get MMK 25,000, 35,000 or 45,000 room charges and have to spend all our room charges for fuel. If we have to run generators for five or six hours, we suffer losses. We are facing such difficulties at present. It would be beneficial for us if authorities supplied electricity to hotels, especially at night. Lawpita hydropower station cannot run to its full capacity during the dry seasons as it does not have enough water. If it run all its three generators, electricity will not be available during many months in the entire summer.
Electricity has been supplied to wards in the entire country alternatively every four hours since November and some areas are suffering electricity shortages severely.
Lack of electricity supply in tour destinations which are popular among foreigners tarnish the image of the country, Chairman U Naung Naung Han of the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association told the CNI.
A woman riding a bicycle among pagodas in Bagan.
He told the CNI, "The entire world will come to know that we have electricity shortages. This will tarnish the image of the country. Some tourists are visiting Myanmar to study investment opportunities. Public services should be available at such destinations. Electricity should be available so that services will not be disrupted. Priority should be given to such destinations in supplying electricity. The hotel and tourism industry should have access to electricity supply in the same way as industrial zones."
As hotels may raise service charges, this will have an impact on travellers, according to tour operators and hoteliers.
People crossing to Sagaing.
Chairman U Zaw Zaw of the Shan State (North) Hoteliers Association told the CNI, "If we have to run generators when we have only a few guests, we suffer losses. We haven't raised service charges but are closely watching the situation with the hope that electricity will be supplied more regularly. If the situation does not improve, we will have to raise room charges. Hoteliers will face challenges. Meanwhile, fuel prices have risen again recently. The fuel demand exceeds the supply. Hotels will be forced to raise room charges. So, tourists will stay at guest houses or may decide to stop travelling."
Hoteliers said they would call on the authorities to supply electricity to them as a priority.
Currently, there are only a few travellers at present but it is expected that the number of tourists will crease during the Christmas and New Year, according to tour operators and hoteliers.
