MYANMAR TRAVEL NEWS - August 2014

HGH TRAVEL

MYANMAR TRAVEL NEWS - August 2014

E-VISA

Online visa from the Myanmar government website will officially be available from September 1, 2014.
For information on this please see: www.myanmarevisa.gov.mm.

The visa will take up to five days to process and requires payment by credit card. It is valid only for entry via Yangon International airport though clients may exit the country at any legal port (such as Mandalay etc.) Not all countries are yet eligible for the visa so you will need to check the list, however we expect the list of countries will be increased as time goes on. For any questions please do contact us. info@hghue.com

ASEAN Tourism Forum

In January 2015, the 34th annual ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) will be held in Myanmar for the first time since its inauguration in 1981. The event will take place from 22 to 29 January at the Myanmar International Convention Center in the capital city of Naypidaw. For those who have not yet visited Myanmar this is an excellent opportunity to do so. To make application as a hosted buyer please visit the website www.atf-2015.com

WORLD Heritage Listing for Historic Sites

The ancient city-states of Pyu became Burma’s first entry on to the Unesco World Heritage List with three sites securing the endorsement of the World Heritage Committee. The trio of cities; Halin, Beikthano and Sri Ksetra, feature the remains of sites built by the now-extinct Pyu people from the first to ninth centuries AD. At Sri Ksetra, outside the city of Pyay (Prome) in the Pegu Division, the ruins of what was once Southeast Asia’s largest walled city cover an area of about 18 square miles, with the remains of a royal palace at the center. Halin in the Sagaing Division (near ShweBo) and Beikthano, in the Magwe Division likewise include ruins enclosed by the remains of brick fortifications and feature elaborate irrigation systems. The Pyu sites formed one of 15 historical and natural sites in Myanmar on the tentative list for World Heritage status. Other sites for potential World Heritage recognition include Inle Lake, the Myeik Archipelago in Tenasserim Division and Bagan.

SHWEDAGON Renovation

Beginning the 2nd week of September 2014 and continuing through February 2015, Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon will be undergoing renovations. From around mid-October, the main pagoda will likely be fully covered by scaffolding though the pagoda shape will still be evident. During this period of renovation the pagoda complex will remain open and will still have its usual great ambiance.

HOTELS

YANGON

	Sedona Hotel has recently upgraded the hotel with renovations to rooms and the hotel areas.
Traders hotel rebranded to Shangri-La brand – After two and one-half years extensive renovation, Traders hotel has now been officially renamed Sule Shangri-La.
Shangri-La International Hotels will open its second hotel in Yangon, Myanmar in 2017. Located on the banks of Kandawgyi Lake, the 350-room Lakeside Shangri-La will have excellent views of the glittering Shwedagon Pagoda and Kandawgyi Lake.

MANDALAY

Sedona Hotel has finished renovating the hotel rooms and hotel areas.

Mandalay Hill Resort has also completed room and hotel renovations.

HPA-AN

Hpa-An Lodge is a boutique style lodge being developed near Mt. ZweKa Bin. It will have scenic views and will be a convenient stopping off place for those traveling further south toward Mawlamyine or beyond. There will be 18 individual wooden cottages and the soft opening season is planned for November 2014. There will also be a restaurant serving International and Local Traditional Cuisine to all in-house and walk-in guests. Management is by experienced European staff.

AIRLINE

ANA Holdings, the parent company of All Nippon Airways (ANA), has withdrawn from a 49 per cent equity investment offer to Asian Wings Airways (AWA). ANA’s board of directors stated: “Competition between new and old airlines in Myanmar has intensified, bringing rapid changes … and calling into question the assumptions made at the time of the original decision.”

RIVER Cruises

Sanctuary Ananda is a new ship which will be ready for cruising in November 2014. Custom built for the Myanmar rivers by local craftsmen using traditional materials the ship will offer sleek contemporary luxury in 20 spacious suites on three decks, the luxurious Owner's suite, a sundeck with an outdoor pool and the Kansi panorama lounge. The ship will cruise the Irrawaddy between Bhamo and Yangon visiting temples, pagodas, palaces and monasteries along the way, while journeys on its great tributary, the Chindwin, will go through the jungles of the north, forgotten villages, ancient towns almost to the Indian border.

The Pandaw Cruise company is further increasing both the number of ships and the cruising programs. There are two new small ships with ultra shallow drafts which will allow far ranging excursions up the Chindwin and Irrawaddy Rivers.

In the 2014/15 season the the new RV Kalay Pandaw (5 cabins), will cruise weekly between Monywa and Homalin.

Also in the 2014/15 season the new RV Kha Byoo Pandaw (10 cabins) will cruise between Mandalay and Bhamo on a weekly basis.

RV Paukan 2014 has been chartered to the US based company HAIMARK Travel for a period of 4 years and traded under the name “RV Irrawaddy Explorer”. It is a brand new deluxe ship with 28 suites and will be operated and managed by Ayravata Cruise Company for HAIMARK.

SAILING in The South

Burma Boating – slightly more than one year old, Burma Boating has grown to include a flotilla of four elegant sailing yachts. They range in size from 85 to 103 feet in length and they cruise around the islands of Myanmar’s beautiful Mergui Archipelago. The yachts are for charter or for join in on 6 day 5 night cruises. You can sail yourself or they will do it for you. For more information on the yachts see www.burmaboating.com