Unicef defends Myanmar office costs amid soaring rents in Yangon

In a statement responding to the Irrawaddy news website’s report that it was paying the sum to a former junta general, Unicef said rents in Yangon were “extremely high” but did not reveal what it was paying.

“We believe that the rent we have negotiated is well under market rates. It is more than we want to pay, but a good deal nonetheless and the best we were able to find,” said Myanmar representative Bertrand Bainvel in the statement. Speaking to AFP Bainvel said the $90,000 sum was “not correct” but declined to provide an exact figure for the office, a purpose-built compound in an upmarket district.

“We will not release [the rental figure] because it is part of the contract that we have, but I can definitely tell you that it was one-third of the market rate. We tried to get the best return on the money,” he said. Sources in the UN and the property market say several UN offices in the city have rents of tens of thousands of dollars a month, including a large complex housing the World Health Organisation.

Responding to the Irrawaddy report that Unicef had rented its offices from former junta-era agriculture minister Nyunt Tin, Bainvel insisted the organisation had “conducted due diligence” without giving detailed information.

Former junta figures and business cronies have a dominant role in Yangon real estate, with one property agent saying it was “pretty hard” not to rent from them.

Property prices in Yangon have soared as demand vastly outstripped supply. But the alleged Unicef rent was much higher than those thought to be paid by other UN agencies, according to the estate agent. “If it is $90,000 or $80,000 then it just seems too high,” he said, adding that he had not seen the property first-hand.

The organisation, which has 130 staff in Yangon, moved into the offices in mid-2013 after it was asked to vacate space in a prominent downtown hotel that had been home to a number of UN agencies for years. – AFP

 

Over half of tourists come from Thailand 

The number of tourists from Thailand in the first four months of this year exceeded 600,000, when the country welcomed a total of one million visitor arrivals. 

According to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, based on the surge in the number of foreign tourists, Myanmar is confident that it would achieve the target number of three million this year. 

As of May 6, the arrivals have reached 1.04 million.

The ministry said significant numbers of foreign visitors were from Japan, China, France, Germany and the US.

“A lot of Americans are visiting Myanmar. From Thai side, the tourists are increasing every year,” said an official from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. Although most foreign visitors spent their holiday in Myanmar, an increasing number of foreigners came to look for business and investment in comparison to last year’s arrivals.

Some 2 million foreign visitors spent over US$900 million last year, a record high for the tourism industry. According to the ministry’s press release, the tourism-generated earnings will likely soar even higher.

The number of foreign arrivals stood at more than 2 million last year, comprising 885,476 by air, 6,086 by ship and 1.1 million through land borders. – MYANMAR ELEVEN

 

Bagan tourism plan uses Japanese advice

A tourism development plan for Bagan is being drawn up, banking on Japan’s advice. 

According to the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism (MHT), the plan follows the joint contract between Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Myanmar government. Japanese organisations were in the region in April, to survey its tourism potential. 

Their comments would then be compiled by the Japanese government and will be integrated into the development plan. Japan has also promised technical assistance, though the financial aid is unspecified, according to Aung Zaw, director general of the MHT.

The Bagan region has garnered much interest worldwide and more than 200,000 tourists have visited in 2013. 

Among the million tourists that have come to Myanmar in the first four months of 2014, over 100,000 of them have been to Bagan. – MYANMAR ELEVEN

 

National carrier close to getting new aircraft 

Myanmar Airways will this month finalise the contract with Boeing over the interior features of its 10 new aircraft. 

The state-owned airline is working with the US aircraft maker in finalising the details of the aircraft, said a source from the company.

The source noted that the new aircraft would be decorated accordingly on Myanmar Airways’ requirements. 

Myanmar Airways and GE Capital Aviation Services signed the leasing contract for the 10 new aircraft in Singapore on February 11. It was in line with the airline’s goal to become the national flag carrier, with the operations in more international routes. It is currently serving all major domestic destinations from its main base at Yangon International Airport. The leasing contract has won the government’s approval. Deliveries of the new leased aircraft are scheduled to begin in June 2015. – MYANMAR ELEVEN