Yangon-Mandalay railway upgrading to be put out for bids in Japan

A locomotive running on a railway-track bieng seen. Photo: Phoe Khwar

Tenders to upgrade the Yangon-Mandalay railway will be open for bids in early 2017 in Japan, said U Tun Aung Thin, a general manager from Myanma Railway (Lower Myanmar office).

Upgrading of this railway track is slated to be completed in the 2019-2020 fiscal year. The aim of putting out tender bids in Japan is to invite experienced companies from Japan who will build the tracks to meet international criteria. This project will be provided by the Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA).

There are three different railway routes that are part of the upgrading project on the Yangon-Mandalay railway: Yangon-Toungoo, Toungoo-Yamethin and Yamethin-Mandalay. The estimated cost of the project is about US$1,700million. Under the first phase, the upgrading of the Yangon-Toungoo railway track will be carried out, with an estimated cost of US$200million.

After the whole project is completed, the Yangon-Mandalay rail journey is expected to take eight hours, it is learnt.—200

Source : Global New Light of Myanmar

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Hotels and tourism sector likely to attract more FDI next FY: experts

Tourists taking pictures of a damaged pagoda in Bagan, on 25 August 2016. Photo: Reuters

MYANMAR’s hotel and tourism industry is likely to receive more foreign direct investment next year as many foreign companies eye the sector due to what is believed to be its bright future, according to the estimation of experts.

According to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, over US$2.9 billion in 52 investment projects including FDI and joint-venture investment have been allowed in the hotels and tourism sector.

Among non-citizen investors, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam have topped the tourism investor list of Myanmar, followed by Hong Kong, Luxemburg, Japan, Malaysia, UK and UAE.

The ministry expects that international tourist arrivals are likely to reach more than 7 million over the next three years. The country hosted over 4.5 million foreign travelers last year, an increase of 52 per cent compared with 2014. The ministry estimates that the number will increase to 5.5 million this FY.

Myanmar will top the list of tourism development countries, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council’s estimation about future prospects and sustainable development of 180 countries during the period between 2015 and 2025, based on tourism contribution to the GDP ratio, development rate, employment opportunities, investments and exports.

Transportation plays an essential part in tourism development, which requires a focus on infrastructural development and better services, an expert said.—Khine Khant

Source : Global New Light of Myanmar

Museum at Mandalay Palace to be upgraded

Museum at Mandalay Palace also known as Myanansankyaw Shwenandaw. Photo: Aung Thant Khaing
THE MUSEUM at Mandalay Palace, also known as Myanansankyaw Shwenandaw, the last royal palace of Myanmar, will be upgraded this month with the financial assistance of families of the country’s armed forces.

Families of Myanmar’s Tatmadaw, headed by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, contributed over Ks180 million for the project to upgrade the existing structure of the museum by experts, said U Nyo Tun Myint, director of the Department of Archaeology and National Museum (Mandalay Branch).

On behalf of the Tatmadaw families, Commander of Central Command Maj Gen Win Bo Shein presented Ks187.933 million to the department last Monday, with the authorities planning to spend the funds on maintenance of some halls of the palace in need of repair and renovation, he added.

The cultural museum is situated on the western side of the palace grounds, showcasing many ancient artifacts including clothing fashions, furniture and other household articles of the King and general that has become one of the tourist attractions of Myanmar.

Located in the heart of Mandalay City, the Great Golden Royal Palace was built by King Mindon in the 1850s, when he shifted his capital from Amarapura. —Aung Thant Khaing.

Source : Global New Light of Myanmar

Tourism ministry to cut admin charges in half to spur growth

A monk walks through a field near a temple in Bagan, one of Myanmar’s most popular tourist destinations. Photo: EPA
​The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism is cutting administrative charges it levies on operators of tourism-related business in half, in order to promote more foreign investment into the sector and more foreign visitors to Myanmar.

A list of updated administrative costs will be released on October 1, affecting operators of hotels and guest houses, tour companies, tourism-related transportation services and tour guides, U San Yu, assistant director at the tourism ministry in Mandalay told The Myanmar Times. The cost of a host of business activities - including renewing a licence, altering the name of business or moving location - will be cut by 50 percent, he added.

The intention is to help draw more foreign visitors to Myanmar by allowing the tourism sector to expand and provide more services, he said. “There were a lot of reductions [in administrative charges] in previous years, but there is still not [enough] foreign investment in travel operations,” he said.

Myanmar’s tourism ministry has also made it easier for travel businesses to receive a licence by allowing online applications since July 1.

But lower charges are unlikely to placate concerned tourism entrepreneurs asking the government for a more favourable business environment. Tour guides, for example, are facing competition from unlicensed operators that do not face the same tax treatment or licence payments, U Ye Myat Tun, chair of the Mandalay Tour Guide Association, told The Myanmar Times.

“It is good to cut the charges by 50pc and that will help us develop travel operations,” he said. “But tour guides like us still have to pay a high rate of tax, and we need relevant departments to help ban illegal tour guides from operating.”

The tourism ministry in Mandalay has granted licences to 1279 tour guide operations, 115 travel companies and 183 hotels, according to ministry data.

Source : Myanmar Times