Myanmar to upgrade domestic airports

Department of Civil Aviation says it will issue a tender in the last quarter of this year to invite local and foreign companies to invest in 39 underdeveloped domestic airports.

The Irrawaddy oneline newspaper first reported on the proposed tenders,  in November, last year, saying the DCA had called on companies to register their interest and proposals to rebuild and improve 30 of Myanmar’s 69 domestic airports.

The process, which was completed last January, was not a formal bidding process, but served to inform the government agency of the interest and plans of potential airport developers.

DCA general director Tin Naing Tun, was quoted as saying that many companies had registered their interest, but they were mostly local companies.

“Some companies are proposing that they can upgrade all domestic airports… but they should only indicate the specific airports that they will actually upgrade,” he said.

DCA confirmed, Wednesday, it will now issue a formal tender inviting companies to bid for contracts to develop the 39 airports some time “after the rainy season,” in October.

“We will hold more discussions and allow companies to make bids on the tender later this year,” he said.

Earlier, the DCA hoped to attract international corporations as partners to fast track improvements and give the country a top quality network of airports.

At that level, the response has not been promising. Very few international companies will make a commitment to take on an entire network when only a few airports are considered profitable.

According to the department, the government currently spends about US$12 million annually to maintain 69 domestic airports.

The government hopes the plan to outsource airports will help develop the country’s aviation industry and airport capacity. Air safety has become a particular concern after a number of accidents occurred at local airports in 2012 and 2013.

The country’s aviation industry is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, as estimates suggest foreign tourist arrivals will rise dramatically from 4.2 million in 2013 to 30 million in 2030. (Tourism master plan forecasts).

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Mekong Delta supports increasing tourism

Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Sports will set up a Tourism Coordinating Office to support Mekong Delta tourism cooperation and increase tourism to the region.

Vice Minister Ho Anh Tuan told local media that the administration will implement the programme to create specific tourism products for the region.

“Tourism has not been managed professionally in the region. There is a severe shortage of employees and no agencies to coordinate activities.”

Communities in the Mekong Delta need to forge closer links among themselves to develop regional tourism products and services.

Critics suggested that communities should focus on promoting ecotourism in Cham Chim National Park, Lang Sen Wetland Reserve, Ca Mau mangrove swamp and Phu Quoc island district.

In addition, village tourism should be developed in Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long and Hau Giang provinces and CanTho city, while spiritual and cultural tourism should be the focus in An Giang, Soc Trang and Tra Vinh.

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism’s Hotel Department deputy head, Vu Van Thanh, said there was a need to develop home stay tourism, but communities would need to take the lead.

In 2013, the region welcomed 1.5 million international tourists.

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Cambodia’s tourism powers on

Cambodia’s closed 2013 with a healthy 17.5% increase in tourist arrivals according to the country’s statistics and tourist Information Department.

The country attracted 4,210,165 visits compared to 3,584,307 visits in 2012. Just over 2 million overland trips came from neighbouring Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.

Data released by the Ministry of Tourism, late last week, showed Vietnam was the top supplier with 854,104 trips up 11.9% from 763,136 in 2012.

Other top markets were: China (463,123; +38.7%); South Korea (435,009; +5.7%); Laos (414,531; +63.2%); and Thailand (221,259; +9.8%).

In 2013, 47.9% (2,017,658) of all international visitors arrived by air. Siem Reap Airport received the major share, 28.1% (1,181,281) and Phnom Penh Airport registered a market share of 19.9% (836,377).

Overland travel accounted for 50.3% of all trips (2,117,454) travel through checkpoints with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam while sea travel had a market share of just 1.8% (75,053).

When all modes of transport are considered data showed tourist arrivals to Siem Reap province, home of Angkor Wat, had a market share of 53.1% or 2,237,286 visits.

Asia Pacific was the main source region with a market share of 76.8% and grew at 19.2% to deliver 3,231,892 visits last year.

Oceania grew 29.1% to 152,712 followed by Europe (+14.2%; 698,157), Americas (+7.7%; 263,175), Africa (+4.9%; 5,902), and the Middle East (+3.0%; 11,039).

Outbound trips by Cambodians in 2013 reached 871,646 increasing 10.0% from 792,398 in 2012.

Last December, the country attracted 431,807 international travellers improving 12.9% from 382,326 visits during the same month in 2012.

Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon said China was the second largest source of tourists to Cambodia after Vietnam last year.

“The steady growth of Chinese tourists to Cambodia was thanks to the country’s attractive tourism destinations, political stability and direct flight connections between the two countries.”

He added: “Moreover, good relations between the Cambodian and Chinese governments have encouraged more Chinese tourists and business people to Cambodia… currently, we are working to attract more Chinese tourists, particularly to the Angkor Wat temple and coastal areas.”

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Easier visa to Vietnam

Foreign travelers can now complete the visa application process for Vietnam at http://visa.mofa.gov.vn doing away with the need to get forms from the nearest Vietnamese representative agencies around the world.

The website is in four languages (Vietnamese, English, German, and French) and was launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 14 March.

Vietnamese who travel on a foreign passport (mostly US citizens) can also use the service.

It is part of a serious upgrade of the ministry’s services related to tourists that included improvements to its database, more accurate monitoring and a website to process visas.

The visa applications are scrutinized by the MOFA’s network, as well as other government agencies involved in security before the application is approved.

World Bank grants have supported the project.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Pham Binh Minh said it showed the MOFA’s resolve to employ IT to streamline visa processes.

“The convenience of an online visa will help to attract more foreign individuals and businesses to visit the country, contributing to our economic development beyond tourism.”

World Bank country director for Vietnam, Victoria Kwakwa, said the online visa application system will help shorten the visa issuing duration to just two working days.

In 2013, international tourist arrivals to Vietnam reached 7,572,352 growing 10.6% from 2012.

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New plan to attract tourists of Sapa

Sapa District’s People’s Committee in the northern province of Lao Cai plans a culture and entertainment complex in the district to attract more international tourists.

According to the plan, the project will be built on 41 ha of land near Nguyen Chi Thanh Road and Hoang Lien National Park in Sapa district.

It will be divided into three main areas including a central community zone, an entertainment area, souvenir shops, restaurants, guesthouses and cable car terminal to make it more convenient for visitors to reach nearby peaks and viewpoints.

Sapa is the main destination in in Lao Cai province in northwest Vietnam. It is one of the main market towns in a very mountainous region, where several ethnic minority groups such Hmong, Dao (Yao), Giay, Pho Lu, and Tay live.

Thousands of tourists head for Sapa to enjoy the cool weather at an altitude of around 1,500 metres. The nearest train station is at the base of the mountains in Lao Cai town, which is also on the border with China. The rail line links China to Vietnam’s capital Hanoi.

Lao Cai will assume much greater significance as a regional economic and trade hub given its strategic location ahead of the ASEAN Economic Community free trade era, that is due to start in December 2015.

The border town has road, railway and waterway connections and in the future will include air routes. Lao Cai is also located on an economic belt project that will link ASEAN members and China.

But its main appeal is Sapa that nestles in a mountain range overlooking Lao Cai and is best known for its trekking, cool weather and its role as a market town for ethnic minority groups.

The best time to visit Sapa is from February to April and September to November to enjoy spring and autumn weather. It is extremely cold in December and January and guest houses lack heaters in the rooms. Four-star hotels are better equipped to keep their guests warm even to featuring fireplaces in bars or lobbies.

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Myanmar provide emergency healthcare services

Shwe Zanaka Company will provide emergency healthcare services for tourists visiting Kyaikto, Mon State effective 1 April and will expand the service ultimately to other popular tourist sites in Myanmar.

The company will cooperate with ambulance services, the Ministry of Health and local hospitals to offer medical services for foreign visitors.

The project is endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism.

The company representative, Dr Myint Lwin, told local media that the company has opened a clinic in Kyaikto to give emergency healthcare services.

Thousands of local and foreign tourists visit the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda in Kyaikto every year, but the town lacks sufficient hospitals and clinics to provide emergency healthcare.

“If an emergency arises while visiting the pagoda, we will treat them immediately at the location. If we can treat the patient at the clinic, we will do it, but if the person needs to be admitted to hospital, we will contact the public hospitals in Mawlamyine and Thaton. We can also transport the patient to the hospital.”

Tourists visiting Myanmar are advised to take out full medical insurance that includes an evacuation option if needed to neighouring countries such as Thailand. But if visitors fall sick without adequate insurance, Shwe Zanaka’s new service could be a life-saver.

To gain full support, Shwe Zanaka Company has contacted social organisations and ambulance services to provide an emergency service. It hopes to work closely with local travel companies in Myanmar to provide back-up emergency services for their clients.

It will also implement a tele-medicine system to offer media treatment consultations via the internet or the telephone for patients who need medical care while in remote locations such as mountains.

“We have installed C-band satellites in Yangon and Kyaikto in order for us to provide emergency healthcare advice. The services are not free but they will be moderately prices.”

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