14 July
WITH beautiful scenic views, an unspoiled environment and the traditional culture of its ethnic hill people, Kayah State offers great opportunities for development of its tourism industry.
Salon, Ywanku, Kateku, Pinmasaung and Dawki villagers in Panpat Village-tract have attracted over 10,000 local and foreign visitors every year since they turned away from relying on traditional farming to community-based tourism in 2016.
Kayah State has the potential for extensive development in the hotels and tourism sector because of its beautiful and green forests, spectacular mountain views, gorgeous rivers, and abundant waterfalls.
Major attractions of Kayah State include Taungwe Pagoda, Ngwe Taung Dam, Htee Pwint Lake, Kan Kunat Sint, Kyat Cave, Htee Sel Kha waterfall, and Kwaing Ngan spring water.
The Directorate of Hotels and Tourism has also listed the Htee Parunu natural cave in Prusho Township, Ye Ni Pauk cave in Bawlake Township, Tananlaw cave in Pasawng Township and Loinanpha mountain in Dimawhso Township as tourist destinations.
The hotels and tourism sector should be given the first priority in development, because the state government is working to upgrade the BP 13 border entry with Thailand to become an international checkpoint.
Tourism in Kayah State is booming and domestic travelers visiting the state increased by up to 97 percent, while the number of foreign travelers rose by 41 percent last year, compared to the previous year, according to the 2018 Kayah State Investment Opportunity Survey.
Loikaw, a small town in the hill region, situated at 2950 feet above sea level, has a natural water-fall and lakes. Also, lakes located 14 miles south of Loikaw are believed to be those ones mentioned in the legend of Dwemenaw and her sisters.
Dwemenaw is said to be the youngest of seven daughters of the King of the Land of the Mt Silver.
As for travellers, they can visit the Biluchaung Hydro Power Plant, supplying electricity to many regions throughout the country, located in the Lawpita mountain resort camp. The region has clean and sufficient water resources, which come from Biluchaung flowing from Inlay Lake in Shan State, Ngwe Taung Dam, Great Pe-khon Lake on the border of Shan and Kayah states.
By Nat Ye Hla
