Jessica Mudditt
Archaeological artefacts have reportedly been found in the construction project areas in the Bagan hotel zone, according to U Htay Aung, minister for hotels and tourism.
The artefacts were found while inspecting the project site of Sandar Hotel Company, which received the permission to construct a hotel in the Bagan Hotel Zone 2.
U Htay Aung said that reporting by construction firms is mandatory if archaeological artefacts were found in the areas of hotel construction projects in the Hotel zones in Bagan.
He also added that they should follow the directives of the respective ministries while implementing the project – to immediately report if archaeological artefacts were found – to systematically record the proceedings according to the project and to provide a list of persons and project materials.
Bagan, as a national archaeological and cultural region, is visited by many local and foreign visitors. The increasing attendance of tourists and the maintenance of the archaeological regions are to be discussed between the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.
Out of the 46 national cultural regions in Myanmar, Bagan has been prioritised by the Cultural Ministry to become listed in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The newly found archaeological artefacts and already existing historical pagodas and stupas would be maintained according to the rules and regulations of the UNESCO, the ministry said.
“Hotel Zones are being built because there’s an increasing number of tourist coming here. However, visitor management has to be better controlled because we are trying to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage list,” said Daw Sandar Khin, deputy minister for cultural affairs.
From: Myanmar Business Today