Starting on July 1, 2019, foreigners visitors coming to the Maha Myat Muni Pagoda are required to pay K5000 (US$3.25) for the entrance fee, according to the Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association
If previously, the pagoda was free admission, from now on, will use the money collected from entrance fee for maintenance and conservation, said by the group. Maha Myat Muni Pagoda is one of the most popular destinations in Mandalay to visit in a Myanmar tour package. It is estimated that there are about 100 foreign tourists visiting the sacred site per day. Currently, only visitors taking photos in the pagoda land are charged a K1000 fee.
To visit some important sites in Mandalay, tourists have to pay a zone entrance fee of K10000 to visit Mandalay Palace, Shwe Kyaung, and Inwa city but not including the Maha Myat Muni Pagoda. To protect and preserve the historical site, the fee is highly appreciated. While other countries do it as well, the money will help the country to provide more services and better the maintenance in the pagoda, said U Khin Maung Soe, the travel agency owner.