Myanmar to Build New Multi-Purpose Port in Yangon

The capacity of the existing ports in Yangon and Thilawa is quite limited and with the amount of internationally traded goods constantly rising they will soon face a huge problem being unable to handle the necessary volume. Yangon and Thilawa ports currently handle about 95% of all country's export and import and are the main gateway for commercial trade between Myanmar and Singapore, Malaysia, India, China, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Thailand with 20 shipping lines calling regularly to the ports.

The new port is expected to help reduce costs of imported fuel what will definitely bring benefits to the country's tourism sector as well. Higher fuel costs than in the neighbouring countries were named one of the 6 major issues touched upon by the Union of Myanmar Travel Association (UMTA) at a tourism conference in Nay Pyi Taw which took place last week. The high cost of fuel influences greatly the price of packages offered by the national tour operators making them totally incompetitive on the regional level.

According to statistics, only about 40% of the tourists coming to the country entry through international airports with impressive 60% of arrivals through land borders. If the new port is built it will probably service tourist cruise ships, too.

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