Madonna invited to perform in Myanmar

Ko Bo San, the organiser, said a Madonna concert in Myanmar was still under discussion, adding that further details would be announced later. If the diva agrees to come, her concert would be a behemoth task for the organiser. “We need modern sound and lighting systems and a venue large enough for all the audience members coming for her performance,” he said. “We need modern and large theatres to hold a concert like this in our country. Even if we can rent sound and lighting systems from abroad, we still need to do a lot about preparation and service. Basic accommodations such as 

dressing rooms and bathrooms are still not up to the standard,” he commented. The organiser added that a number of international artists are now interested in performing in Myanmar. Legendary singer Engelbert Humperdinck, who had planned to hold a concert in Yangon last month, cancelled it due to a health problem in his family.

 

Remittances from Thailand kick off

Remittances from Thailand to a local private bank have been available since June, according to banking sources.

The remittance services cover 10 Thai provinces in the first stage and a few more in the second phase starting in October.

Myanmar’s Asia Green Development Bank, in cooperation with the privately owned Kasikornbank of Thailand, started remittance services last June. In the first phase, KBank branches provide the services from Mahachai in Samut Sakhon (which has the largest community of Myanmar migrant workers), in addition to Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Chon Buri, Ranong, Chiang Mai, Surat Thani, and Phuket. The second phase will cover KBank branches in Tak and Ranong provinces, and Chiang Dao district in Chiang Mai province. From July to September, the service charge for remittances of any amount costs Bt100. After that period, the fees will be Bt200, AGD Bank said.

 

Foreign tourists flock to Myanmar

As Myanmar is opening up to the outside world, about half a million tourists arrived by the end of June and the number is expected to reach 1 million before the end of the year.

Visitors entered the country through such important gateways as Yangon International Airport, Mandalay Tada-U Airport, and Bagan Airport, in addition to many border checkpoints. The head count reached 497,556 at the end of June 2012. 

An official from the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism said this year's rainy season has seen more arrivals than last year’s. “The number of incoming tourists is on the upswing this monsoon season. More visitors are expected to come during the high season for tourism and vacation,” said the official.

Statistics show that the number of inbound foreign tourists has jumped sharply this year from the three previous years. The average number of travellers arriving at the Yangon International Airport is 1,050 in 2012, compared to 500 in 2009, 650 in 2010, and 700 in 2011.

In the backdrop of the country’s political and economic reforms, the number of visitors for business purposes and for sightseeing are almost equal, and they have been on a constant increase over the recent years.