MYANMAR: Mrauk-U Is Safe For Tourists Despite Conflict In Rakhine State

Despite the ongoing conflicts in neighbouring Rakhine State, it is still safe for local and foreign tourists to visit the ancient city of Mrauk-U.

The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism in a travel advisory said all tourist sites including sunny Ngapali beach and the ancient temple ruins of Mrauk-U continue to be safe destinations.

The weather all over Myanmar is excellent so don’t wait for the high season but visit now,said the advisory.

Mrauk-U region is located very far from the affected areas and peaceful tourism is still ongoing around the site, U Than Hlaing, chair of Mrauk-U hotel zone said.

Conflicts in Rathedaung township had not reached Mrauk-U as the location is far away, and there are no good roads connecting Maungdaw, he said.

The hotel bookings have not been cancelled yet and we are still receiving guests as usual.

The arrival numbers of tourists for this year may slightly decrease, but overall, the tourism industry of the area is not really impacted.

We also plan to release information about Mrauk-U safety concerns for tourists through the Myanmar Hotelier Association’s facebook page and on the website shortly, U Than Hlaing said.

Myanmar continues to be a very safe country for foreign tourists. There is a continuous arrival of tourists through international airports, seaports and border gates.

Now I’m taking a guest from Australia to tour around Sittwe. Tomorrow we will be heading to Mrauk-U.

My guest will spend a week in Mrauk-U. He is my first customer for this tour season, Ma Kyawt Aye Than, a local tourist guide said.

I also booked tours for October and November and they confirmed their bookings. Sittwe and Mrauk-U regions are still peaceful.

One can visit the sites without worrying about the conflict,she added.


Tourism Observer

RUSSIA: Aeroflot Receives Prestigious Award For Its Mobile App

Aeroflot has received the prestigious TADVISER IT-PRIZE 2017 in the Mobile App of the Year nomination .

The awards ceremony for companies with the most advanced IT integrations was held on May 31st at the TAdviser SummIT forum in Moscow, which brought together clients and providers of leading edge IT services.

The event was organised by TAdviser.ru, which is Russia’s leading portal in the field of corporate digitalization under the auspices of the Russian Ministry of Communications.

Mobile app development is one of the key aspects of Aeroflot’s strategy. Aeroflot’s mobile app is the company’s most rapidly growing sales channel.

Monthly ticket sales via Aeroflot’s mobile app total more than RUB 1 billion.

The app’s user base is also growing rapidly, with more than 1 million active users at present.

Aeroflot’s mobile app offers a qualitatively new level of customer service as well as a range of useful services, from check-in and personal account management to choosing the right fare and buying a ticket.

The number of services will expand further. Aeroflot plans to update its app at least once a month.

Mobile apps have enabled more feedback from customers. Aeroflot passengers actively use all communication channels, including AppStore and Google Play reviews, to share their opinions, views and recommendations with regards to mobile apps and their functionality.

Aeroflot is a leader among both domestic and international airlines when it comes to implementing cutting-edge IT.

Aeroflot has been ranked fourth among global airlines in terms of digitalization, according to Bain&Company’s rating.

British Airways is likely to lose its four-star status because of cost-cutting and poor service, leaving it trailing Russia’s carrier.

British Airways is expected to be downgraded to a three-star rating because of declining standards — leaving it with a worse rating than Russia’s Aeroflot.

Skytrax, a research organisation that reviews all the world’s major carriers, said it is “likely” BA will lose its existing four-star grade, which it said had become less and less valid because of cost-cutting.

Demotion to a three-star airline would put BA which once boasted the slogan “the world’s favourite airline” — on a par with Uzbekistan Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Myanmar Airways and Ryanair.