CNI News
30 September 2023
The entry fee for foreign tourists who visit the Bagan ancient cultural zone has been raised and the number of days allowed to stay there has been changed, according to the Department of Archeology and National Museum ( Bagan Branch).
In order to make more foreign tourists enter, the entrance fee should be collected in Myanmar kyats and the number of days allowed to stay there should be designated five days at least, said U Thet Lwin Toe, managing director of the Myanmar Voyages International Tourism.
"Bagan Zone entrance fee is raised because of inflation. 10 years ago, the entrance fee was 10 US dollars. I sort of thought days allowed to stay were five days at that time, but now three days only. The entrance fee is 30,000 kyats. it is equal to about eight US dollars according to the current dollar price. If it was calculated based on the dollar price, it wouldn't be expensive. But the days allowed to stay should be five days because there are different kinds of guests who come to Bagan. Three days is enough for some guests to visit the Bagan Zone. But those who mainly want to come to Bagan should be allowed to stay for five days, I think. The authorities concerned imitate the style of Angkor Wat. But the value of Bagan is different from that of Angkor Wat. When Cambodia and Vietnam are very successful in tourism industry, it is regrettable for Myanmar. If the government want to make more foreign tourists enter at a situation like this, it needs to relax such as raising the number of days allowed to stay and collecting entrance fee in kyat." he said to CNI News.
Bagan region
The entrance fee was 25,000 kyats in the past and now is 30,000 kyats. Moreover, the period of visiting and staying permit was reduced from five to three days reportedly.
Another entrance fee must be paid if staying more than three days and the entrance fee changed will start to be collected starting from 1st October 2023 reportedly. That the entrance fee and period of staying permit have been changed would have no effect, said U Zaw Weik, chairman of the Myanmar Hoteliers Association (Bagan Zone) to CNI News.
" In my opinion, 30,000 kyats for entrance fee is less. 15 US dollars should be at least. Even in Siem Reap, Cambodia, the entrance fee is 37 US dollars. It will have no effect." he said.
Although in the past, companies were allowed to work on the collection of zone entrance fees through tenders, due to the decrease in foreign tourist arrivals during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Archeology Department is collecting.
Bagan region
The places where the zone entrance fee is collected are the archeology counter at Bagan Airport, Arnanda Pagoda, Mya Cedi and Gubyaukgyi Temple (Myinkaba).
Although the entrance fees in the flagship places in other countries are more than those in Myanmar, because the service is better, it is deserved. Although Myanmar has raised entrance fees, its service has not been upgraded.
So, it still necessary to systematically manage things relating to the tourism industry, pointed out travel service providers.
