Chief Minister calls for systematic maintenance of Smart Island in Myeik archipelago

Chief Minister calls for systematic maintenance of Smart Island in Myeik archipelago
Published 13 January 2021
Zaw Moe Oo (Myeik)

The smart island of this kind in the Myeik archipelago is unique and rare in the world so conservation is necessary, said Taninthayi Region Chief Minister Myint Maung.   

The smart island also called Parpant island located in Kyunsu Township, Myeik District, has two different beaches—one full of white sand and the other full of colourful gravels. It is a kind of island popular among travellers.

For the tourism development on the island, a floating jetty was opened on January 10 with a budget of Ks99.1627 million alloted by the region government.

The chief minister said the smart island management matters would be discussed in detail when the new government takes office.

“We’ve got a jetty on the smart island. We need to conserve it. I have learned that the Ministry Hotels and Tourism as well as the district administrative body has submitted their reports about island management. At meetings to be held under the next government, there will be discussions about the management. There are very few smart islands in both our country and the world. We need to maintain and conserve it systematically. We are overly concerned that visitors might have taken coral pieces or gravels. Tourism is based on service. Tourism will be affected if we have nothing to show,” the chief minister commented at a ceremony to inaugurate the community based tourism in Donnyaungmaing Village. 

Before the Covid-19 outbreak, Myeik District Tourism Entrepreneurs Association and tour guides took part in the maintenance of the smart island and its conservation campaign. But with no visitors on the island during the pandemic, the island is in need of maintenance and conservation.