With the Mandalay Regional government issuing permits to tourists seeking to visit Mogok, well-known as Myanmar’s ruby land, more than 200 tourists visited the region in October, according to Mandalay Region’s Directorate of Hotels and Tourism.

“Earlier, visitors had to submit an application in Nay Pyi Taw to be allowed to visit Mogok. Then, they had to wait for one month or one-and-a-half months to be granted the permission. Now, permission is being granted by the regional government. So, tourists can now get permits to visit Mogok within five days,” said an official from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.

Foreign tourists who visited Mogok last month were mainly from China, Thailand, India, France, the United States, Britain, Russia, and Germany.

A total of 207 tourists visited Mogok in October, and the number of visitors is rising month by month. The tourists arrived in the region via Mandalay. To develop tourism in the region, the authorities in February gave the green light to foreigners visiting three more villages — Kyaukpyathet, Panling, and Bernard.

From January to October, a total of 1,237 tourists visited Mogok, with the region welcoming 105 tourists in January, 156 in February, 146 in March, 72 in April, 159 in May, 118 in June, 113 in July, 93 in August, 68 in September, and 207 in October.

Mogok is famous among local and foreign travelers for its diverse ethnic groups and culture, ruby mines, the Kyauk Pyat That (Stone Roof Tier) landmark, and natural caves. Its mountains are also a destination for trekkers. — Aye Maung(Translated by Hay Mar)