Event Recap – Yangon Travel Massive Learns about Kayah State

Yangon held their second Travel Massive networking evening in December 2017 at Pansuriya Restaurant.

The evening had a particular focus on the development of tourism in Kayah State – a region of Myanmar recently opened to travellers.

Kayah State has only recently opened to tourism and has been described as some as ‘Southeast Asia’s Last Frontier.’ Kayah (previously known as ‘Karenni State’) is renown for the Kayan or Padaung people, recognisable by the neck rings many of the women still wear today.

Guest Speakers

Peter Richards and Winnie Mai of the International Trade Center (ITC) have been working in Kayah State (where Winnie is herself from) over the last few years to build capacity for tourism projects in five villages outside the state capital of Loikaw.

Peter and Winnie gave an update on the progress of their various projects and advised how tourists can travel to Kayah, what they can do when they are there, and how to do so responsibly.

Ulla Kroeber from the non-profit social enterprise Hla Day joined Peter and Winnie to talk about handicrafts in Kayah State and how this can play into Community Based Tourism.

Here’s some photos from the evening…

Bertie Lawson is a chapter leader of Yangon Travel Massive. He lives in Yangon and is working as the Managing Director of Sampan Travel, a boutique tour operator offering tailor-made journeys around Myanmar.