CNI News

19 Mar 2023

As the Thingyan festival is approaching, bookings for chartered vehicles have increased by large numbers, according to chartered vehicle rentals.

Compared with the last Thingyan festival, the number of people travelling in charter vehicles have increased and most of them are travelling to Taunggyi, Inlay or Bagan.

As fuel prices have skyrocketed, rental costs have risen, an official from Zarti Myay Chartered Vehicle Rental told the CNI.

He said, "We have been preparing for the Thingyan festival since early March. There are many people who have booked for chartered vehicles. Most of them are going to Taunggyi, Inlay or Bagan. Compared with last year, the number of travellers has increased slightly but it has not reached the level before the pandemic. We are in trouble as fuel prices have skyrocketed. Rental costs for chartered vehicles have risen higher than our customers have expected. Rental costs for a chartered vehicle to Bagan have risen from more than MMK 100,000 previously to more than MMK 200,000."

The Alodawpyae Pagoda in Bagan.

Although domestic tourists usually travelled to beaches such as Chaungtha, Ngwesaung and Ngapali in Thingyan festivals previous years, they are planning to go to Shan State and Bagan this year.

Those who go to beaches under packages of tour operators but domestic tourists travel to Inlay and Bagan in chartered vehicles that have at least ten seats.

Although the festival is still four weeks away, people are seeking information about chartered vehicles and about 50 percent of them have already booked chartered vehicles for the festival, Ko Ye Tint Lwin, founder of the Lwin Myanmar Tour and Chartered Vehicle Services, told the CNI.

Pagodas in Bagan.

He said, "People are seeking information about bookings. As the festival is approaching, there are likely to be more bookings. About half of the information seekers have already booked chartered vehicles. The number of bookings will increase when the festival is nearer."

However, it is difficult to hire chartered vehicles when the festival is nearer and rental fees are likely to be higher together with rising fuel prices. As a result, those who intend to travel in chartered vehicles are required to book them in advance, according to tour operators.

Some famous chartered vehicle rentals have received bookings for all their vehicles.