THE latest outbreak of violence in Rakhine state has spared the nearby coastal town of Thandwe and Myanmar’s famous attraction Ngapali Beach.
Sectarian clashes broke out from September 29 to October 4, even as Myanmar’s president Thein Sein met local residents and hoteliers in the town that week, leaving close to 500 people homeless.
Travel trade players have reported no major effects so far. Lilli Saxer, managing director of Diethelm Travel Myanmar, said: “As it’s the very start of the season, there are just a few visitors in the beach area of Ngapali.
“Our guests returning from the beach here have not reported any problems or disturbances. The beach area is quiet and airlines are operating as per their regular schedule.”
The violence raises questions about the Myanmar government’s ability to control religious hatred in the country even as it pursues tourism more aggressively as an engine of growth. Despite the restoration of peace in Thandwe, tension remains and the trade continues to take precautions.
Said Saxer: “The main restriction (for our travellers) is that, for their own safety, guests are required to stay within the hotel compounds during the evenings.”
Chris Lee, manager of Asia World Myanmar, is taking it a step further and recommending that tourists do not visit Thandwe “as the violent groups who acted against minority Muslims were operating around tourist areas, including areas close to Thandwe domestic airport”.
Myanmar’s Ministry of Hotels & Tourism last year banned foreign tourists from visiting several attraction sites in Rakhine and Shan states due to instability caused by ethnic clashes (TTG Asia e-Daily, September 12, 2012).
