Hot-air balloon rides to open in Mandalay and Inle

Hot-air balloon trips will open in Mandalay and Inle lake, in addition to Bagan, according to the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA).

Up until now, only Shwe Lay Tagon Company has been operating hot air balloon rides over the ancient ruins of Bagan since 1999. The DCA recently allowed Myanmar Ballooning Company and Myanmar Fone Yin Company to operate hot air balloons in Mandalay and Inle starting this season.

"All three companies including Shwe Lay Tagon want to operate in tourist attraction areas such as Bagan, Mandalay and Inle regions. If all companies can operate with no risk for passengers, we will allow all companies in those regions in the coming year," said Tin Naing Tun, Director General of DCA on Saturday.

Although the three companies requested permission to operate in Mandalay and Inle as well as Bagan, the DCA has restricted one company for each region for safety reasons.

Tourists enjoy sightseeing on hot air balloons in Myanmar and currently Shwe Lay Tagon Company operates seven hot air balloons in Bagan.

Myanmar Ballooning Company is planning to open this month with six hot air rides in Mandalay region and has been granted permission by the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC).

Myanmar Fone Yin Company has submitted a proposal to the MIC to operate in Inle region and has been given the green light from the DCA.

source: Eleven Myanmar
http://elevenmyanmar.com/national/3962-hot-air-balloon-rides-to-open-in-mandalay-and-inle