A small clash last week between the Ministry of Culture and the tourism industry in Myanmar when the former abruptly banned the climbing of all temples in Bagan. This decision was quickly reversed after it was met with vocal opposition from many parties.
Bagan ban: Myanmar stops tourists scaling prized pagodas
AFP, via Yahoo News, 22 February 2016
Tourism ministry joins fight against Bagan ban
Myanmar Times, 24 February 2016
Myanmar backpedals on Bagan climbing ban
AFP, via Channel NewsAsia, 24 February 2016
Ministry backflips on Bagan pagoda ban
Myanmar Times, 25 February 2016
The Ministry of Culture has backpedalled on a decision to ban visitors from ascending pagodas in Bagan.
The edict, announced on February 22, prompted criticism from the tourism industry as well as from within the ministry. In barely 24 hours the ministry clarified its position, saying visitors would be banned from ascending all but five pagodas – its previous policy.
The ministry took the unpopular original decision because a medical company had conducted a cultural show on Pyathagyi Pagoda in the second week of February. It was to come into effect on March 1.
