A steam train between Bagan and Kyaukpadaung is going to start.

A vintage steam train will ply tourists between Bagan and Kyaukpadaung in Mandalay starting next week.

The train will cash in on Mandalay’s popularity as the gateway town to visit the historic sites of Bagan and particularly rail fans, who enjoy stream train travel.

Very little advance notice has been given to overseas tour operators so it is unlikely that the train’s sales team will be able to muster group business in the short-term.

Tour operators are likely to adopt a cautious approach to see if the train is here for the long-term, or just another experiment that lacks a  marketing plan, or sales expertise to secure advance bookings through the international travel trade.

Price is a another consideration. The train will begin a single weekly service, every Tuesdays, effective 16 December and the 110-km return journey will cost a staggering USD250 per person.

The train will carry up to 120 passengers at a time and is pitched at high-end foreign tourists, looking for a different mode of travel to Bagan that harks back to Myanmar’s colonial history.

Bright View Steam Locomotive Tours director, Zaw Weik, was quoted by the Irrawaddy media as saying: “I am not only seeking business success, but also the improvement of the tourism industry.”

Included in the price is a short stop in a local village, meals and transportation by car to and from Mount Popa once passengers alight at Kyaukpadaung.

A typical return journey from Bagan to Mount Popa by private taxi costs USD34.

Bagan Tourist Guide Organisation president, Zaw Win Cho, told the Irrawaddy that the locomotive would be a popular draw card despite the ticket price.

“I think the cost is high, but wealthy  tourists will pay. There is a one hour hot air balloon ride here that costs USD360, but tourists still fork out the cash.”

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UNESCO is considering the nomination of Bagan into the global heritage list!

Myanmar’s Ministry of Culture says the ancient city of Bagan could be nominated for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List within three years.

Local media reported that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), is considering the nomination of Bagan to its global heritage list.

In June, the Pyu cities of Sri Ksetra, Hanlin and Beikthano became the first sites in Myanmar to be included on the heritage list.

Last month, officials from the ministry and UNESCO met international experts in Bagan to discuss how the city could be protected from ill-considered development caused by a sharp rise in tourist arrivals.

UNESCO has threatened to discontinue recognition at some important sites in Southeast Asia, including Luang Prabang in Laos, if checks and balances are not introduced to manage tourism flows.

During the Bagan meetings it was decided that an improved inventory of all the historical pagodas and temples at the site, as well as stricter enforcement of heritage laws, would be required before the site could be nominated, according to the culture ministry.

The Myanmar Times quoted Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library, deputy general director, U Thein Lwin, as saying experts from Japan and Italy were helping officials come up with a plan to maintain the site in line with international standards.

It could take up to three years for Bagan to achieve full recognition by UNESCO.

A 1998 law bans development inside cultural heritage sites, but some hotels  opened in prohibited areas before the law was enacted, while others were allowed later in direct contravention of the law.

Another task is cataloguing the large number of historical monuments in Bagan. In 1975, the number of identified structures stood at 2230, but rose to 3122 by 1997 and now stands at 3312.

One of the most important archaeological sites in Asia, Bagan is expected to attract large numbers of tourists in coming years, with arrivals forecast to increase to 5 million in 2015. UNESCO listing is likely to give visitors numbers a further boost.

The Bagan region attracted 200,000 tourists last year compared to 150,000 visits in 2013.

Source: Ttrweekly

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Bagan’s temples fee will increase in 2015.

The tourist entrance fee for Bagan’s temples will increase from USD15 to USD20 starting 1 January next year.

The Irrawaddy news channel quoted an unnamed source from Ministry of Culture’s Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library as saying that the increase will generate more income for Bagan to help protect historical sites, now it is preparing for World Heritage list status.
“The entrance fee increase will have no impact on tourists visiting Bagan, which is one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. They will still visit as the experience is worth considerably more than the USD20 entrance fee.”
He added: “The entrance fee at Ankor Wat in Cambodia is also USD20 and in Bagan we have many places to visit.”
The Ministry of Culture collects the tourist entrance fee, which was USD10 until June 2013, when it increased to USD15.
“The entrance fee goes directly to the country’s budget and we have to request for funds to conserve the sites in Bagan. It’s not part of the Ministry budget. We need all of the funds to ensure the sites are preserved properly for the future.”

He added that in 2012, 150,000 tourists visited Bagan increasing to 200,000 people last year.
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