Hot-air balloon ride over Bagan enchanting tourists

The hotels in Bagan Cultural Zone are occupied during Thadingyut Festival and the number of visitors this year was higher than that of the previous years. That being so, tourism-reliant businesses are flourishing. On 16 October, temples and pagodas were packed with visitors. Some homegrown visitors and tourists enjoyed hot-air balloon rides over the Bagan Cultural Zone.
In 2021, the hot-air balloon ride business to view Bagan’s astonishing view was suspended. It will be resumed in the upcoming high tourism season. One company is undertaking activities to fully launch this service for the local visitors and tourists.
“The pilgrims have been flocking to temples and pagodas in the Bagan Cultural Zone since 8 October (the day before the Thadingyut full moon day). Last year, the visitors were rarely seen after the Thadingyut Festival. Therefore, the tourism related businesses of the local residents are thriving. During the three-day Thadingyut Festival, all the hotels were occupied. The visitors do not need to bother in booking these days. Hot air balloon ride over the Bagan sunset view attracts the tourists and it is one of the bucket lists of some tourists.
Starting from Thadingyut full moon day (9 October), one company has started running this service. The foreigners appreciate the panoramic view of the Bagan area by taking hot-air balloon rides.
“As Bagan is relying on the tourism business, we cordially welcome the local travelers and tourists in the open season,” said U Win Aung, deputy director of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism (Bagan branch).
There are over 150 hotels in the Bagan-NyaungU area. Over 70 restarted this business in the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 120 rooms are available in a hotel. Bagan was packed with the visitors and room occupancy rate was 100 per cent during the Thadingyut Festival, forcing some visitors to stay at monasteries, pagoda platforms and bus terminals. It brought tourism prospects for the upcoming high season. The authorities and officials of the related departments are also prepping the needs to ensure the safe and sound travel for the visitors. The reviving tourism industry is ready for the upcoming peak-travel season.
Out of the four existing hot air balloon companies, one company started to offer the hot-air balloon service for the visitors to enjoy the stunning bird’s eye view of the Bagan scenic beauty. There are 3,822 temples and pagodas in Bagan covering an area of 19 square miles. The hot air balloon service over magical Bagan in the winter season is attracting the tourists and home-grown visitors with other appealing facilities.—Nyein Thu (MNA)/GNLM