More and more visitors are attracted to Mandalay

MANDALAY: According to Myanmar’s Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Mandalay will welcome 500,000 visits in this year.

Statistics published by the Mandalay Region Immigration and National Registration Department showed an increase of 60,385 international tourists visited the city in 2014 (464,577 foreign visitors) compared to the previous year.

As reported by Global New Light Myanmar media, the majority of visitors came from China, South Korea and Japan.

Mandalay is the second largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Most of the historical works consist of the palaces were damaged but visitors are still able to discover the replicas of palaces.

The top visitor destinations in Mandalay are the Maha Muni Buddha Image, Yankin Hill, Mandalay Hill, Taungthaman Lake, Myanan Sankyaw Golden Palace, the ancient Inwa city, Taungthaman Bridge and Kuthodaw Pagoda.

SilkAir, Bangkok Airways, THAI Smile, AirAsia, Golden Myanmar, China Eastern Airlines and Myanmar Airways International are currently operating flights between Mandalay and Bangkok, Singapore, Kunming (China) and Gaya (India).

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Establish new small aircraft base at Mandalay international airport.

State-owned airline Myanma Airways will establish a small aircraft base at Mandalay’s international airport to expand its domestic commuter flights to secondary destinations.

According to the Eleven Myanmar news report, the Mandalay hub will be a base for airline services to Nyaung Oo, Heho, Banmaw, Myitkyina and Lashio, using Beech Craft and Grand Caravan aircraft.

The airline also intends to fly sightseeing trips from the airport for tourists staying in Mandalay.

The media quoted unnamed official as saying that MA has submitted the proposal to Department of Civil Avaition.

The sightseeing flights will cover upstream and downstream trips along the Ayeyawady River, Began-Nyaung Oo-Poppa-Moneywa, Pyin Oo Lwin-Gote Htake and Pintaya-Inle-Pyadalin cave (Nywa Ngan).

MA bought four Beech Craft and a Cessna Grand Caravan.

Myanma Airways is the sole national flag carrier and state-owned airline of Myanmar, based in Yangon. In the past it prospered mainly on royalties it received from other airlines it partnered with. There was also a rule that ensured the state airline held shares in all other airlines flying in the country.

It operates scheduled services to all major domestic destinations from its main Yangon International Airport base. Most tour operators avoid using the airline due to its poor safety record in the past.

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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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.

A warm welcome from Threelanders.

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