Prepaid cards to be introduced at sites next month: ministry
September 27 - October 3, 2010
PREPAID cards will be introduced at major Myanmar heritage sites starting from October in Bagan, Mandalay, Bago, Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock) and the National Museum in Yangon to collect entrance fees, said U Kyaw Oo Lwin, director general of the Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library of the Ministry of Culture on September 19.
“From October 1, a prepaid-card entrance fee system will be introduced at [those sites]. The entrance fees do not go to our ministry or the government, but to maintain the heritage sites, National Museum and Libraries across the country. We will continue to use them for the same purpose,” he said.
He said the system was designed to make it easier for tourists and travel agents to pay zone entrance fees and would also help maintain more up-to-date visitor statistics and improve administration by government departments, organisations and guides. It also eliminates some of the problems encountered in charging cash.
The plastic entrance card, which will be the size of a credit card, cannot be transferred or refunded. It is valid for one day.
When visitors present the card at the entrance, the pin number and serial number are checked and the name, passport number and nationality of the visitor will be registered.
A prepaid card will cost the same as the regular entrance fee, which ranges from US$2 to $10 depending on the site.
From October 1, prepaid cards will be available in Yangon at the Ministry of Culture head office on Pyay Road at 6.5 mile, National Museum and Ministry of Culture in Nay Pyi Taw.
“In the near future, the system will also be introduced at other heritage sites in Myanmar. And we’re planning to sell cards online, and at travel and ticket agents,” said U Kyaw Oo Lwin. According to the ministry, the department collects entrance fees at 37 heritage sites, 13 archae-ological museums and nine libraries across the country.
