The price hike was initially scheduled to come into effect on the 1 June. Following complaints by members of the Myanmar Travel Association, the increase was deferred. The Association said its travel and tour operators had not been given sufficient notice about the increase and had therefore not built it into their itineraries.
The travel team at 12GO ASIA say the main stupa at the Shwedagon complex is 99 metres high and visible from afar. As well as an unmissable attraction when in Yangon, Shwedagon is a living shrine and a top pilgrimage destination for Buddhists. A breakdown of the nationalities of visitors seems to bear this out.
The figures show the highest numbers of tourists who visit Shwedagon are from Myanmar’s eastern neighbour, Thailand. Both countries are predominantly Buddhist. In May, almost 37,000 overseas tourists visited the temple. The tally for the year to date stands at 250,000.
Visitor fees for Yangon Shwedagon Pagoda to rise
News in Asia
The board of trustees with jurisdiction over Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda have confirmed a new date for a hike in the cost of entry. Admission fees to the national landmark of Myanmar will go up from MMK8,000 to MMK10,000 on the 1 December.