Recognized as a marine national park on 28 February 1996 and designated an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2013, Lampi Island attracted a large number of foreign visitors to Wah Ale Resort during the current tourism season, with European tourists accounting for the largest share, led by Germans, followed by Russians and Americans.
DUE to Myanmar’s well-conserved natural ecosystem, European tourists were the largest group of foreign visitors among the travellers from Asia and Africa to the Wah Ale Resort, located within the Lampi Marine National Park, one of the country’s most popular ecotourism destinations for international travellers, according to the resort.
In the travel season, the resort welcomed the highest number of visitors from Germany, Russia, the US, England, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, and several other European countries. European travellers who value nature and environmental conservation visited the resort to experience its marine scenery, forests, rare species, mangrove ecosystems where fish and shrimp breed, and naturally preserved coral reefs.
The resort accepts more than 40 visitors per day and provides accommodation only in natural wooden houses along with seafood cuisine. Room rates are US$850 per person during December and January, while rates for the remaining months are US$800 per person, according to the resort.
Travellers usually visit the resort from November through the end of April. Although the resort generally begins accepting visitors from August each year, this travel season saw a higher number of visitors compared to previous seasons. Therefore, bookings for the next travel season have already been accepted since May. Among all travel seasons, the 2019 season remains the record-breaking year with the highest number of visitors to Wah Ale Resort.
“We do not expect large numbers of tourists to visit Wah Ale Resort because we are concerned about damaging the ecosystem. We only accept between 40 and 50 visitors per day. Since this is an eco-tourism business, we showcase the natural beauty, untouched environment, rainforests, marine ecosystem, mangrove forests, biodiversity, wildlife, and the traditional culture of the local Salon people. Most travellers come here to enjoy and appreciate the natural ecosystem, so we highly value those who love and respect nature. We have already started accepting bookings for the coming travel season from this month. The naturally beautiful Wah Ale Resort warmly welcomes visitors,” said U Aung Zin Latt, general manager of the resort.
The Lampi Island was recognized as a marine national park on 28 February 1996 and as an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2013. During the current tourism season, European tourists made up the largest number of foreign visitors to Wah Ale Resort. German tourists ranked first in visitor numbers, followed by Russians in second place and Americans in third place. — Nyein Thu (MNA)/KTZH
