[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

REUTERS- MYANMAR-TOURISM



07:01 p.m Sep 24, 1998 Eastern

MANDALAY, Myanmar - When the curtains rose recently for the performance of
the
Mandalay Marionettes in the second largest city in Myanmar, only 15 tourists
were on hand
in a theatre that seats 50, and the few 500 kyat ($1.38) tickets sold would
not be enough to
cover expenses, according to a staff member.

``In June and July, this place was full almost every night, but few tourists
are coming
lately,'' the staff member said.

Since 18 foreign political activists were held and deported in August for
distributing
anti-government leaflets, and three journalists were detained for
interviewing opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar has increased the red tape for the issuance
of tourist
visas. And Myanmar folk making a living in the tourist industry say the
latest policy is
killing business (MYANMAR-TOURISM, GENERAL FEATURE, 800 WORDS,
PICTURE)