15 July

Despite the local travellers visiting Bagan, Mini Oway tricycle taxis face difficulties finding passengers in the archaeological zone in Mandalay Region.

Starting from the coronavirus outbreak in Myanmar, the travellers have not been allowed to visit the Bagan-NyaungU archaeological zone for more than four months.

Now, authorities granted the travellers to visit the archaeological zone with time limitation. Although there are many visitors reaching the ancient zone, no passengers are travelling by hiring the mini Oway, according to the drivers.

“There are over 300 mini Oway toktoks in the archaeological zone. When there were many local and foreign travellers in the zone, the mini Oway drivers earned K15,000 per day. Some drivers earned even K30,000 daily.

Now, there are no passengers and we have to park our toktoks in front of the houses,” said U Maung Hsan, a three-wheel bike owner.

The residents from the Bagan-NyaungU are reliant upon the local and foreign travellers.

There are many businesses such as fermented bean paste (locally known as Pon Ye Gyi), Zee Pyar and lacquerware business in Bagan-NyaungU ancient zone.

During the coronavirus pandemic period, the hotels, restaurants, tour guides, and other businesses such as toktok, e-bike have stopped automatically without having suspension.

Although there are a few local travellers starting to visit the Bagan-NyaungU zone, the mini Oway carriers are still facing difficulty, said U Soe Aung, a toktok bike owner. 

Ko Htein (KPD)  (Translated by Hay Mar)