Mandalay, 9 October

A total of 50,104 tourists visited Mahamuni Buddha Temple in Mandalay during the period from 1 July to 30 September after the entry fee is fixed to collect from foreigners, according to the pagoda board of trustees.

Foreign visitors to the Maha Myat Muni Pagoda were charged Ks. 5,000 each starting from 1 July this year and more than Ks. 25 million was collected from globetrotters as entry fee during that period. The tourists are allowed to visit the temple via Tourist Information Center north of the pagoda and a similar counter is being built as tourist arrivals have been increasing.

The pagoda board of trustees is offering services to foreigners such as arrangements of toilets, lockers, wet tissues, directives and security guards are deployed around the pagoda, said U Thei  Tun, head of the pagoda’s administrative office. The entry fees collected from tourists will be spent on all-round renovation of the pagoda.
The Maha Myat Muni Pagoda welcomed 16,348 tourists in July, 19,020 foreigners in August and 14,736 globetrotters in September totaling 50,104 foreign visitors, earning over Ks. 25 million.

Than Zaw Min (IPRD)
Translated by Kyaw Htike Soe