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Issue 20 : Oct/Dec 2001 |
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EXOTISSIMO ORGANIZES FIRST FLIGHT ARRIVAL TO MANDALAY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT On 22 June 2001 Exotissimo received the first international flight to arrive at Mandalay’s newly opened Mandalay International Airport. On board where 200 Australian visitors on an exclusive multi-destination tour around some of the most exotic cities in Asia. The captain of the Qantas Boeing 767 commented that the runway at the new airport was the longest and best in South East Asia and that the facilities and cooperation of the airport authorities with the Australian National carrier were perfectly organized. According to tour operator Croydon Travel, who organized the tour, after years of hesitation Australians are now ready to visit Myanmar. As evidence of this new found enthusiasm for the destination Croydon Travel mentioned that the tour was sold out within weeks of being advertised. Upon the groups arrival Exotissimo arranged an express VIP clearance for the group bypassing the usual immigration and customs procedures. The party was welcomed with flowers and girls wearing the different national dresses of Myanmar, a welcome highly appreciated by the Australians. From the airport the group left for a sightseeing tour of Mandalay visiting Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwenandaw monastery before heading to the luxury Sedona Hotel. During their four day stay in Mandalay the group were constantly surprised by the beauty of the country, the peaceful and relaxed atmosphere and the friendliness and openness of the Myanmar people. On the second day in Mandalay the group boarded boats built during colonial times for a cruise to Mingun. This charming village on the banks of the Irrawaddy River is home to an impressive pagoda built by King Ba Gyi Daw, which would have been the largest in the world had it not been badly damaged in an earthquake and the world’s largest bell, the Mingun Bell. The group also visited traditional Mandalay workshops producing gold-leaf and marble statues.
One of the highlights of the four days was a specially chartered train journey to the former British hill station of Maymyo. In a train decorated with palm fronds, flowers and traditional fabrics the guests enjoyed a ride into the mountains through some spectacular scenery. On arrival in Maymyo the group took antique British horse carriages to the beautiful and recently renovated Botanical Gardens for lunch. On the final day of their stay the whole group visited Mahagandayon Monastery in Amarapura, the biggest in the country, and helped in distributing rice amongst over 1,300 monks. With immigration and customs formalities taken care of in advance by Exotissimo the group’s departure went just as smoothly as their arrival at Mandalay International Airport. Comments from members of the tour group were very favourable with many remarking that Myanmar had been the highlight of the five country tour. Croydon Travel’s well-travelled tour leader was surprised that so few overeas tour operators have discovered the country and claimed that Myanmar’s sights made it the most breathtaking destination in Asia. This first internation flight arrival at Mandalay International Airport marks an important step in development of toursim in Myanmar and it gives the country the chance to show foreign carriers and tour operators that Mandalay is now ready to receive arrivals directly from abroad. Airlines in Asia closely followed this first international charter flight to Mandalay and the first airline with regular international flights to Mandalay is expected to be announced soon. In response to this news Exotissimo will be featuring new tour itineraries starting in Mandalay in the new Exotissimo Travel Professional’s Guide 2002 which is due for publication in October 2001. For more information about organising charter-tours from Mandalay or Yangon or for other incentive tours in Myanmar contact Edwin Briels, Myanmar Incentive & Marketing Manager at: edwin@exotissimo.com.
VISAS TO STAY BUT THE GOING GETS EASIER FOR GROUPS As an up and coming destination Myanmar attracts visitors seeking unique and new experiences in a country rich in culture but untainted by the excesses of modern tourism. Much has already been said about the pace of tourism development, concrete changes have, and continue, to be made to speed up the tourism infrastructure in Myanmar. While visas are still a necessity for all visitors tourists, Myanmar embassies make it point of issuing visas for both package tourists and FITs, as well as business visas for a stay of up to 28 days, within 24 hours. In addition, both visas can be extended in Yangon. Tourist visas for 14 days and for business visas for up to 12 months, are issued on a case by case basis. In other new developments prearranged applications can be made to the ministry of hotels and tourism for visas on arrival to be issued for groups on chartered flights, cruises, special interest tours and familiarisation trips, on a case by case basis.
NEW OUTBOUND DEPARTMENT FOR EXOTISSIMO MYANMAR As Myanmar continues to open up to inbound tourism Exotissimo have opened a new department in the country for outbound travellers. Opened in July, the new department will cater to the travel needs of expatriates, diplomatic staff and non-governmental organizations working in Myanmar. Exotissimo have been operating a very successful outbound department in Vietnam for five years and in Cambodia for a year. A quarterly full-colour paper packed with travel ideas and special deals is distributed to thousands of individuals and organizations in Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar. While there is some competition in Vietnam and Cambodia the new department Exotissimo have opened in Myanmar will be the first travel agent in the country serving the expatriate community. The new department is headed by Ms Thiri Zaw who can be contacted at : thiri@exotissimo.com.
The second Ho Chi Minh City Charity Fun Run took place on June 16th and Exotissimo once again participated both as a sponsor and by entering a team. The event, which is organized by the British Consulate General and the British Business Group Vietnam, attracted over 1,300 runners and raised over 23,000 US Dollars for local charities. Incidentally Exotissimo team member Pascale Herry finished the race in second place! |
That Luang Festival The most important religious festival in Laos is being held in and around Vientiane’s That Luang stupa between 26th and 31st October. Hundreds of monks assemble at the national monument to accept alms and floral offerings from the capital city’s inhabitants. The festival will include a grand firework display and an international trade fair, showcasing tourism in Laos and other countries of the Greater Mekong Sub- Region. See Yangon by steam train From August 2001 the sound of steam engines will once again be heard in Yangon. An authentically renovated steam train will be making a weekly three hour tour around Yangon every Sunday from the Yangon Railway Station in downtown Yangon. Passengers boarding the train will enjoy a tour of the central part of Yangon as well as some of the rural suburbs surrounding the city. There are several stops at local railway stations along the route where passengers can alight to take photographs of the bustling life on the platform or take a refreshing drink from one of the vendors. All in all a perfect way, not only for steam train fans, but for any visitor, to spend Sunday afternoon and discover more about this fascinating city. More rooms available at Inle hotels The Lake View Resort which opened last year at Inle Lake is adding 12 more deluxe villas to bring the total number of rooms to 32. The new villas should be completed by the beginning of November 2001. Meanwhile the Hupin Hotel next door to the Lake View Resort is also undergoing extension work adding another 15 rooms on the lake in front of the hotel. All the rooms are to be built on stilts over the lake and will feature en suite bathrooms and traditional Shan style decoration. The rooms are expected to be ready by November 2001. Also at Inle Lake, the Inle Princess Resort, for years the most popular resort at Inle, has recently added two more suite bungalows in the gardens of the resort. Plans are underway to build eight further suite bungalows during the dry season. |
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Exotissimo Vietnam Saigon Trade Center 37 Ton Duc Thang Street, District. 1 Ho Chi Minh City, VIETNAM Tel : (84 8) 825 1723 Fax: (84 8) 829 5800 E-mail: vietnam@exotissimo.com |
Exotissimo Cambodia 46 Norodom Boulevard Phnom Penh CAMBODIA Tel : (855 23) 218 948 Fax: (855 23) 426 586 E-mail: cambodia@exotissimo.com
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Exotravel Laos Ban Anou-Rue Khouneboulom District de Chanthabouli Vientiane - LAO PDR Tel : (856) 020 507 435 Fax:
(856) 021 21 44 12 |
Exotissimo Myanmar #0303, Sakura Tower, 339 Bo Gyoke Aung San Kyauktada Township, Yangon, MYANMAR Tel : (95 1) 255 266 Fax: (95 1) 255 428 E-mail: myanmar@exotissimo.com |
Exotravel France 171, Rue de Billancourt 92100 Boulogne FRANCE Tel : (33) 155601400 Fax: (33) 155601409 E-mail: exotravel@exotissimo.com |
Exotravel Spain C/Muntaner 31 Pral, 1 08011 Barcelona SPAIN Tel : (34) 93 3231597 Fax: (34) 93 4536791 E-mail: espana@exotissimo.com |
| Website: www.exotissimo.com | |||||
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