Myanmar is counting its temples at Bagan to ensure the ancient city can present accurate data for a UNESCO World Heritage listing.

Global New Light of Myanmar reported the Ministry of Culture’s Archaeology and National Museum Department, is responsible for compiling the inventory of pagodas Bagan’s historical zones.

Bagan was previously separated into 11 zones in July 2015, after which an inventory of pagodas from each zone was initiated. By the end of December 2015, an inventory had been complied in just two of the 11 zones, the report said.

The department’s deputy general director, U Thein Lwin, was quoted saying: “In one area, there were over 300 pagodas. In another, there were 500. We found pagodas that had been buried under mounds of earth.”

The inventory will be completed in February, this year, in order for Bagan to strengthen its bid to be listed as a World Heritage site.

The deputy general director added there were more pagodas in Bagan than people first thought.

According to the most recent records kept by the department, the Bagan Archaeological Zone covers about 42 sq km (16 miles) and has more than 3,000 pagodas.

Bagan is an ancient city located in Mandalay Region, built between the 9th and 11th centuries, during an era when some 55 Buddhist kings ruled the Bagan Dynasty.

In 2014, Bagan attracted 240,000 tourists who generated USD4.1 million in tourism-related revenue.

Bagan Tour Guide Association estimates international visitor arrivals to the ancient city could reach 500,000 by 2018, double the visits in 2015.

The country’s Ministry of Culture is attempting to enforce regulations to protect Bagan as officials seek UNESCO World Heritage status possibly by 2017.

Myanmar has nominated 14 sites for inclusion on the World Heritage List, including Mandalay’s ancient kingdoms and Mrauk U in Arakan State. So far, only the ancient cities of Pyi have been added to the prestigious list.

Mandalay Region Hotel and Tourism Development Department reports tourist arrivals to Mandalay in 2015 surpassed 300,000 visits representing an increase of 26% over 2014.

Global New Light of Myanmar quoted the department data that identified 306,432 tourist arrivals to Mandalay, up from 242,566 visits in 2014.

The majority trips were made by Chinese, Thais, French, Germans and US citizens.

inside no 2The outlook for the tourism sector in 2016 depends on the progress of tourism based investment in Myanmar as well as the global and ASEAN economy, department officials said.

However, Mandalay needs more international flights to encourage growth.

Currently, eight domestic airlines and five international airlines are operating services to the city. Entering the country at Yangon and then travelling to Mandalay over land or by domestic airline is time-consuming. Officials said efforts were needed to attract more international airlines in Asia to offer direct flights.

Mandalay is the second-largest city and is the former royal capital of Myanmar. It is located 716 km north of Yangon on the east bank of the Ayeyawady River.

Source: TTR Weekly

BAGAN, 16 December 2015: Myanmar’s tourism authorities have terminated licenses for over 40 accommodation suppliers in Bagan’s heritage zone to improve the chances of the ancient city being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Myanmar Times reported Bagan residents began building guesthouses after tourism started to take off in 2011. Many of guesthouses are still under construction and are located in the protected zone declared by the Ministry of Culture around historic Bagan. A Myanmar Tourism Federation official confirmed to The Myanmar Times that between 40 and 50 guesthouses have been forced to close. inside no 1The Ministry of Culture is enforcing a protected zone as part of efforts to gain UNESCO World Heritage status which the government hopes to achieve by 2017.

A draft master plan for the protection of ancient sites in accordance with UNESCO standards will be completed next month, the report said. In May, a team of local and international experts began assessing hotels in the Bagan area for compliance with a 1998 law that banned development inside cultural heritage sites.

Some of the hotels were built prior to the introduction of the law, while others were allowed to contravene the law, due to links with the military.

Ministry of Hotels and Tourism director, U Myo Win Nyunt, said the ministry granted licenses to 78 hotels at Bagan, of which only one was outside the protected zone. They are now all deemed illegal.

Last year, more than 230,000 foreign tourists visited Bagan. Until the end of October, this year, the town received 182,000 tourists. Bagan is an ancient city located in Mandalay Region built between the 9th and 11th centuries, during an era when some 55 Buddhist kings ruled the Bagan Dynasty.

Bagan Archaeological Zone covers about 42 sq km (16 miles) and has more than 3,000 pagodas.

Myanmar has nominated 14 sites for inclusion on the World Heritage List, including Mandalay’s ancient kingdoms and Mrauk U in Arakan State. So far, only the ancient cities of Pyi have been added to the prestigious list.