Myanmar To Build New Airport

Myanmar’s Department of Civil Aviation says it will choose either the South Korean Incheon Airport Consortium, or the Singapore-based Yongnam, CAPE, JGC Consortium to build the new Hanthawady International Airport.

According to aviation sources, other international tenders such as Japan-based TAI SAE Corporation and Franch VINCI Airport failed to revise their financing plans a condition for the final selection round.

The department’s director general, Tin Naing Tun, said Incheon Airport and Yongnam submitted renewed financial proposals.

“We are now reviewing their financial proposals. One of them will be choosen to build the new Hanthawady International Airport.”

After initial negotiations with the Incheon consortium failed in March, the DCA said the project could not be completed by 2016 as earlier anticipated. It reviewed tender conditions and called on short-listed companies to present revised financial proposals. It could result in the airport opening as late as 2020.

Myanmar has three international airports; Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw. Yangon International Airport is regarded as the country’s main gateway, but is fast reaching its capacity ceiling.

The proposed new airport is located on a 9,000-acre (3,642-hectare) site about 48 miles (77 km) northeast of Yangon in Bago. Preliminary work on the Hanthawaddy airport began in March 1994 when land was cleared, but work stopped in early 2003 without any construction firm being appointed.

Hanthawaddy will be able to handle 10 million passengers a year once completed, but could grow to triple that size over  20 years.

With the new airport nowhere in sight, Yangon International Airport, will need to expand capacity from 2.7 million passengers a year to 3.5 million in 2015, and 6 million a year by 2019.

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Easier Myanmar's Passports

Myanmar recently opened passport offices in 15 regions and states in addition to the existing offices in Yangon and Mandalay.

The government’s official media, New Light of Myanmar, reported new offices opened in Hpa-An, Kayin State 2 January on the premises of the Police Special Branch.

Passport offices have also been set up in 15 regions and states, the report said.

The new centre will cut the cost of applying for a passport as previously citizens living in the provinces had to travel to Yangon or Mandalay to obtain a passport. The Mandalay passport office opened last July.

An eligible citizen can get a passport within two weeks instead of 21 days in the past. It costs US$25.

In the past, obtaining or renewing a passport was a complex procedure and many applications were arbitrarily rejected.

The actual passport is only five pages down from a previous 14 pages. Officials claimed they reduced the pages to speed up the process without explaining how a smaller passport accomplished that feat.

Visit us at Threeland Travel Myanmar to get further information about traveling around the world and exploring Myanmar; to have access to the best travel services and to meet our professional consultants who're always available for help. For any inquiry please contact us.

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Myanmar Legalize Outbound Travel

The Union of Myanmar Travel Association says travel companies should be able to apply for government approved licenses to allow them to sell international tours by the end of the year.

Official government controlled media quoted union general secretary, U Naung Naung Han, as saying: “The licensing scheme will protect customers and help to identify who is responsible if problems arise on a trip.”

None of Myanmar’s travel and tour companies hold outbound licenses to conduct overseas travel, he said. “It is very important because if they are running without a license consumers have no guarantee.”

“Once the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism issues outbound licenses, travelers from Myanmar who have trouble with their agency during a trip can legally prosecute them, and also we, the UMTA, can officially resolve the problem.”

Licenses were not issued in the past because the government ruled that Myanmar nationals could not hold foreign currency. The government had indicated it will reverse its rule on foreign exchange, but companies will need to abide by regulations over insurance, fees and the license validity period, he cited. The regulations controlling registration of outbound travel firms could be completed by year-end. 

According to Ministry of Hotels and Tourism officials, Myanmar tourists are making more trips to neighboring countries and Asia, than ever before.

The number of Myanmar nationals travelling overseas has reached over 380,000 a year since 2000. Most of them travelled to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea, Indonesia and Japan.

Visit us at Threeland Travel Vietnam to get further information about traveling around the world and Vietnam  holidays; to have access to the best travel services and to meet our professional consultants who're always available for help. For any inquiry please contact us.

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Limitation to bikes from crossing teak bridge

U Bein Bridge - Myanmar

From Threeland Travel's Blog - September 2012

Myanmar Ministry of Culture will prohibit motorbikes and cycles from crossing U Bein Bridge, a historic footbridge and a prominent tourist attraction recognized as the world’s longest teakwood bridge.

Ministry of Culture deputy minister, Daw Sandar Khin, said it is assisting the local government to preserve the 1.2km-long wooden footbridge that was built in the mid 1800’s by the town mayor, U Bein.

It links Amarapura and Taungthaman villages and is still used today by villagers. Government officials fear it could collapse if measures are not taken to relieve traffic.

Motorbikes cause the most damage to the structure, but there are also cases of vandalism. During the annual water festival in April, the bridge is packed with people far more than it was designed to hold safely.

Even though cycles are also included in the ban, the deputy minister said residents could still push them across.

The Ministry of Culture has continually worked on restoring the bridge since 1990 with major repairs undertaken in 2005 to 2006 and during 2008 to 2009.

According to the report, the ministry’s department of archaeology ensures that repair works are undertaken using the original construction materials, however; earlier repairs used concrete, rather than teak wood.

The bridge is located at 25 km from the Mandalay International Airport.

Amarapura has several interesting attractions including Bagaya Kyaung, a wooden monastery founded by King Mindon; Amarapura Palace ruins; Maha Gandhayon Kyaung, a modern monastery complex with hundreds of monks and novices and a Chinese temple.

Visit us at Threeland Travel Myanmar to get further information about traveling around the world and exploring Myanmar; to have access to the best travel services and to meet our professional consultants who're always available for help. For any inquiry please contact us.

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