The number of visitor arrivals in Bagan, Myanmar has risen by over 53,000 in the fiscal year 2016 to 2017 prompting to a collection of entrance fees of more than K134 billion for both these years, according to U Kyi Thein Ko, general secretary, Myanmar Tourism Federation.
The Bagan zone entrance fees of K25,000 per tourists from the library, national museum and the department of archaeology are currently collected by the MTF.
This has been the scenario after an agreement between the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture in March 2016. The agreement states that as much as 90% of the total collection would be offered to the government. And, nearly 4% would be provided to the conservation and regional department and the remaining 6% is being reserved to fund the tourism promotion expenses, as mentioned by U Kyi Thein Ko.
A total of about K7,380.5 million had been collected from 1st March, 2016 till 17th February this year from the zone of Bagan.
At present, the national museum, library and the department of archaeology have kept K147.6 million for Bagan heritage cultural conservation and an additional 2% for environmental preservation that is being controlled by the administrator of Nyaun-U district.
However, the non-government orgaisations including the Bagan Plastic Campaign, Bagan Regional Development Association and the Bagan Heritage Trust can apply to obtain the 4% of the total entrance fees, as declared by the agreement.
U Zaw Win Cho, secretary of Bagan Heritage Trust told the media that they would ensure that the pagoda conservation efforts would be implemented soon such as the removal of plants from pagodas and clearing the rubbish from around the temples by adding some funds from the 2% for environmental preservation.
He went on to add that they are aiming to achieve a high degree of popularity as is enjoyed by the Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia.
U Zaw Win Cho also specified that this is the very first time that they have been offered the right to implement environmental and cultural preservation utilization a certain portion of the entrance fees. He believes that this initiative is a great beginning and they are hopeful of obtaining an increased amount of funding for regional development of this region as well as the Bagan pagodas.
