From May to August this year, the Yangon Region Tourism Working Committee granted the permits for the construction of 21 hotels and guesthouses with the total investments of 238.29 million US dollars, according to a statement by the   Committee. 

During four months, the region tourism working committee issued 33 hotel licenses, one temporary hotel license, eight guesthouse licenses, licenses for the construction of 18 hotels with 2,136 rooms, licenses for the construction of three guesthouses, 276 inbound tour licenses, 121 outbound tour licenses and 218 tour guide licenses.

The total investments hit Ks119,624 million and 238.29 million US dollars and created 2,691 new jobs. 

At the press conference in Yangon Region Government Office on August 30, Yangon Region Kayin Ethnic Affairs Minister Naw Pan Thinzar Myo, vice-chair of the Yangon Region Tourism Working Committee said: “We need a team to check whether or not the permit holders implement the works and follow the rules and laws in order to ensure rule of law. We have a plan to urge the union-level body to increase the number of staff as the number of staff is not sufficient.”

Yangon accounts for around 70 per cent of the total investments in the hotel and tourism sector, she added.

In late August, the regional tourism work committee allowed a total investment of Ks26,674 million in investment which created 335 jobs.