Myanmar authorities stressed on providing better tourism services before looking into the requirements for the development of community-based tourism industry in the Danu Self- Administered Zone at a village in Pindaya Township

“Hopefully, tourist arrivals will be higher in the coming open season, as visa relaxation for South Korea, Japan and China has already been made,” said Vice President U Henry Van Thio during his tour of Danu Self-Administered Zone on 5 August.
The Vice President also stressed necessary preparations for providing better tourism services before looking into the requirements for the development of community-based tourism industry in the Danu Self-Administered Zone at a village in Pindaya Township.
In his capacity as the Chair of the Central Committee for the Development of the National Tourism Industry (CCDNTI), the Vice President inspected the Shwe Oo Min Cave, preparations for community-based tourism, a green tea factory, a coffee farm and a coffee mill in Pindaya and Ywangan townships of the zone in Shan State in the east of the country, At an elephant camp in Kalaw township, southern Shan State, he heard a report on the salient points of the camp, the future prospects of the tourism industry, the upgrading of the camp’s entrance road, the electrification of the camp and plans for hosting greater number of vacationers in the coming open season, presented by an official of Myanma Timber Enterprise (MTE).
In response, he stressed the need to exert efforts for greater success of the camp that has become popular within a short period after its inauguration and for turning the facility into an all-season destination.
Located at milepost 54/3 of Meiktila-Taunggyi road, the 900-acre camp has been promoted into a green business with the aim of earning more income for the State, generating job opportunities for elephant workers and their families, turning the camp into a public vacation and education centre, encouraging public involvement in the environment conservation activities, promoting nature tourism of the country and protecting the elephants.
MTE, a State-owned business entity, opened the camp on 13 February this year under the name of ‘Shan Yoma Recreation Elephant Camp’.
At the Shwe Oo Min Cave in Pindaya, Vice President U Henry Van Thio donated cash for the Buddha images and other religious artifacts Buddhist people of past successive eras had made and placed in the naturally-formed chamber.
Later, the Vice President observed the bungalows under construction and the display of traditional foods and souvenirs at Hsikyain village in Pindaya Township, which will become a community-based tourism destination. He also visited a tea factory there.
In the past, the factory was run by firewood, but now it has become a gas-and-electricity-powered smokeless industry, producing quality tea and helping conserve the natural environment.
After visiting Pinsein village in Pindaya Township and giving instructions on community-based tourism development in Danu Self-Administered Zone, he arrived at a coffee plantation in Myaing village, Ywangan Township. At his meeting with coffee-growers and officials, the Vice President promised technology assistance and quality strains for them, saying that they should extend coffee cultivation for export and domestic consumption. The township has put over 7000 acres under coffee.
He then arrived at YeU village in the township and inspected production process at a coffee factory, a coffee warehouse and a coffee seed drying ground. He also viewed the natural scenery and coffee plantations around the village where bungalows will be erected for eco-tourism.
A total of 1200 coffee plants on an acre of plantation can yield up to 0.25 ton of coffee beans that can fetch from US$6500 to $8000.
The Vice President was accompanied by deputy ministers Maj-Gen Aung Thu, U Hla Kyaw and U Kyaw Myo and officials during the tour.— Myanmar News Agency

(Global New Light of Myanmar: http://www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com/community-based-tourism-underway-in-danu-self-administered-zone/ )

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