Tour Guides Call for Fixed Daily Rate

As Myanmar’s tourism high season kicks into gear, a daily tour guide price should be set, according to local tour guides.
“We should not experience tour guide discrimination, and tour guide services should be set the same,” said Ko Naung, a Yangon-based tour guide. “In some places, one tour guide might charge $20 a day, while another could be $30-$35 a day. If regulation of this happens, it will help the tourism industry to grow,” said Ko Naung, a Yangon-based tour guide.
Myanmar’s tourism high season begins in early November and, as the country’s profile as a tourist destination continues to grow, tourism figures are likely to reach record figures once again. Last year, arrivals reached more than 1 million for the first time and authorities hope that figure will reach 2 million this year.
U Than Ko, a tour guide lecturer thinks that the basic tour guide fee should be set relative to the tour guide’s language abilities. Myanmar attracts tourists from all around the world, and French and Japanese-speaking tour guides are in particularly high demand aside from English.
According to sources in the tour guide industry, discussions are underway with the respective tourism authorities to set a daily tour guide fee.