THERE were huge crowds in Ngapali Beach’s early cold sea­son festival last year, and ar­rangements are being made to open a greater number of hotels than the previous year as the festival will be organized in early November this year.

The Directorate of Hotels and Tourism and the depart­ments concerned launched the first autumn festival including sports games at Ngapali beach under the supervision of the Ra­khine State government on 14 November 2021. Then, the people who were experiencing anxiety due to the COVID-19 pandemic came to the beach for relaxation and the hotels were fully booked and the domestic flights operated well.

The tourism management committee conducted the sem­inars and training courses in the first week of October for the service groups regarding the cleanliness of the beach, health issues and environmental con­servation for the festival to be held in early November. The ho­teliers also make preparations to open a larger number of hotels than last year in which 79 hotels opened, and the airlines sell the tickets in advance.

The situation of Ngapali beach is very peaceful annu­ally. There were huge crowds last year. All are working hard to celebrate this autumn festival actively and so we invite the local and foreign travellers to pay a visit here. The Manaung island is a perfect place with its natural beauty and so the travellers are warmly welcomed,” said U Tin Htut Aung, Director of the Direc­torate of Hotels and Tourism of Rakhine State. The tour season of Ngapali beach began in No­vember second week of last year and it hosted visitors from the period of the Thadingyut festival to the Thingyan festival. Ngapali beach received the highest visi­tor numbers and it created job opportunities for residents.

This year, the new hotels are being constructed at Kanthaya beach in Gwa Township and the preparations are also being made at the hotels at Ngapali, Ngweh­saung and Chaungtha beaches.

A hotel containing 33 rooms and a resort with 24 rooms are also opened at Manaung island and the officials arrange better river transportation to Manaung island and expect to open a larger number of hotels for local and for­eign visitors than last year during this Ngapali Beach’s early cold season festival. — Nyein Thu(M­NA)/GNLM