Thai tourists flocking to Shwedagon
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Thailand and Myanmar also celebrate bridge anniversary
The number of Thai tourists visiting the Shwedagon Pagoda has been higher than the number of Chinese visitors in the last two months, according to the Shwedagon Information Centre.
The most number of visitors to the Shwedagon Pagoda are Chinese and Thais since 2011.
“Statistics show that the number of Chinese visitors exceed those from Thailand, Japan and Korea. However, in the past two months, the number of Thai visitors has been more than the Chinese,” said an official of the Board of Trustees.
A total of 29,904 visitors have donated US$155,220 (Bt4.9 million) to the Shwedagon within two months, according to the Shwedagon Informa-tion Centre. Tourists from not only Asia but also other parts of the world are visiting the Shwedagon to pay homage to relics of the past four Buddhas and see the amazing Myanmar handicrafts and rich culture.
The Shwedagon Pagoda is officially known as Shwedagon Zedi Daw The, which lies to the west of Kandawgyi Lake on Singuttara Hill in Yangong.
According to historical records, the Shwedagon Pagoda has existed for more than 2,600 years, making it the oldest pagoda in Myanmar and the world.
Meanwhile, officials from Thailand and Myanmar celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Myanmar-Thai Friendship Border Bridge on August 14 at Thaung Rin (Moei) River.
The governor of Thailand’s Tak province and his group welcomed his Myanmar counterpart from Myawaddy district at the middle of the Friendship Bridge and they watched the fun fair held in the evening.
Traditional dances from Mon, Kayin and Thailand were held at the ceremony and the Myanmar and Thai beauty queens selected and given awards. Traditional boxing matches were also held while authorities and donors from both nations donated paddy and rice to 198 Buddhist monks and nuns from Myanmar.
Thailand, the second largest investor after China, is investing in trade, investment and economic cooperation. Thais account for 23.32 per cent of total investment in Myanmar. The bilateral trade volume reached US$4.515 billion in 2011-2012 fiscal year, up 24.9 per cent in comparison with the previous year.
