Salone Traditional Festival opens to enable the world witness objective conditions of Myanmar

Yangon, 18 Feb - The Salone Traditional Festival was opened at the beach of Ma Kyone Galet Village, Bo Cho Island, Kawthoung Township, on 16 February, under the co-sponsorship of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and Taninthayi Division Peace and Development Council. Member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Maung Bo attended the opening ceremony.

Also present were Chairman of Taninthayi Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Coastal Region Command Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, Minister for Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Thein Zaw, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Brig-Gen Khin Maung, Chairman of Work Committee for Organizing the Salone Traditional Festival Deputy Minister for H&T Brig-Gen Aye Myint Kyu and members, members of subcommittees, senior military officers, military attaches of foreign missions in Myanmar, officials of the State Peace and Development Council, departmental officials, members of Myanmar Hoteliers Association, Myanmar Travels Association, Myanmar Women Entrepreneurs Association, Thai-Myanmar Friendship Association and social organizations, local entrepreneurs, Dawei cultural troupe members, ethnic Salone people, guests and tourists. Lt-Gen Maung Bo, Commander Brig-Gen Ohn Myint and Minister Brig-Gen Thein Zaw formally opened the festival. Speaking on the occasion, the commander said in the past the Salone living in the Myeik archipelago are called Moken. Since the time of their forefathers, the Salone people have been living in Myanmar and Malay archipelago. And since the 19th Century, they have been the fishermen roaming on the sea along the Myeik archipelago on their small boats which are called kaban. They are nomads, moving from place to place in the sea, staying at the places on islands that are safe from strong gust of monsoon winds and waves from the sea, and where they have access to fresh water. They venture into the seas as soon as the monsoon retreats. Most worship traditional spirits, while those living on Ma Kyone Galet, Zadetgyi and Nyaungwi islands are of the Buddhist faith. The Myeik archipelago, where the festival is being held to enable the world witness the objective conditions of Myanmar, is a pleasant place in the sea. Efforts are being made to develop not only the Salone people, but also the Myeik archipelago, with the help of tourist industry. The aims of the festival is to preserve the sincerity and traditions and culture of the Salone people, to promote the traditions and culture of the ethnic races of Myanmar and to let foreign tourists and local tour entrepreneurs study them, and make tourists know the natural and coastal beauties of Myanmar. Salone are the significant people among the ethnic Myanmar races living in the villages and towns along the Taninthayi coast since time immemorial. Their social life, love of the sea, social and cultural customs and faith are so interesting. Living in Bokpyin Township, and on Zadetgyi, Bo Cho, Jalan and Lampi islands and Myeik archipelago they are excellent divers. Thus, the festival includes diving and boat races of the Salone people. As Taninthayi Division is a coastal region, it is rich in both onshore and offshore natural resources including, minerals, forest products, pearl, bird nest, marine products and oil and gas. The regions also grows rubber, oil palm, herbal plants and other crops. The commander then elaborated on the transport developments and building of bridges including Winwa, Palauk, Palaw, Taninthayi, Pathoung, Kywegu-Kyaukphya and Lenya-Mandaing bridges in the division, indicating the direct road link between Kachin State in the northernmost region of Myanmar and Kawthoung in the southernmost tip. The evergreen forests on the Myeik archipelago remains pristine and untouched, and the sea also is free of pollution, and is beautiful and less frequented by outsiders. Divers may see the various species of fish, coral reefs and wreckages of the ships that were sunk in the seas around the area. Thus, eco-tourism and aqua-tourism will continue to flourish even after the completion of the festival. As the territorial waters of Myanmar at Myeik archipelago are bordering the Thai seas, vacationers come to the archipelago from Phuket in Thailand on board the powered boats. Thanks to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and the local administrative bodies and the festival holding committees at different levels, the festival can be organized successfully. Like all their brethren, the Salone people will have to collectively strive for perpetuation of the sound foundations laid by the Government for progress of all the regions of the nation. Likewise, concerted and energetic efforts of the entire people are required to preserve the Salone traditions and culture, develop the tourist industry, raise the living standard of the Salone people, and for the successful implementation of the seven-point future political programmes of the State for emergence of a modern and developed discipline-flourishing democratic nation.

Minister for Hotels and Tourism Brig-Gen Thein Zaw spoke on the occasion. He said the main factor for development of tourism is attraction. There are two attractionsÑnature attraction and human attraction. Festivals which can reveal the culture and customs of the people in a region are attractions. Cultural, food and traditional dance festivals are held in the east as well as in the west. .c. In Myanmar there are festivals all the year round. Among them, Thingyan, Thadingyut and Tazaungdaing lighting festivals are famous. There are also traditional festivals of national races. Naga festival have been held for three times and Salone traditional festival will become famous very soon. Myanmar is the treasure for tourists because of its snow-capped mountains, hill station resorts, beaches, its long history and ancient heritage. .c. According to the findings of foreign and local scholars, it can be said that primates originated in Myanmar.

 The Prime Minister gave instructions on making arrangements for Myaing region as a tourist attraction. Myanmar has not become a tourist destination yet due to the political attacks and less publicity. In tourism words of mouth is one of the effective methods. .c. Beginning 1996-97, running of powered boat, diving and hotels and recreation activities were introduced in Myeik archipelagoes for development of marine tourism. Now 30 Phuket-based powered boat companies run their operations. .c. He urged officials concerned to make efforts for holding of Salone traditional festival in the years to come. .c. Next, Lt-Gen Maung Bo presented bags of rice to a representative of Salone nationals. .c. Commander Brig-Gen Ohn Myint presented a TV for Salone nationals, Minister Brig-Gen Thein Zaw a satellite receiver for Ma Kyone Galet Village and Deputy Minister Brig-Gen Khin Maung cash for those who rendered assistance to the festival to Salone nationals and officials. .c. Myanmar Hoteliers Association, powered boat companies and Shambhala Co presented clothes, blankets and gifts worth US 1,500 to the representatives of Salone nationals. A Salone national presented souvenirs to Lt-Gen Maung Bo and party. Lt-Gen Maung Bo presented gifts to tourists. A Salone national thanked the government. Members of Salone Dawei traditional dance troupes entertained the audience. Lt-Gen Maung Bo presented traditional harpoons to Salone nationals. He presented K 200,000 and Moby Dick Tours Co Ltd K 500,000 to Salone traditional dance troupe. Traditional boat race, diving contest, demonstration of diving, fish catching contest and camp-fire were held on 15 February. .c. There were booths on hotels and tourism, Salone culture and development of Taninthayi Division, painting and souvenir shops at the festival. Over 6,500 people and 270 tourists visited the festival.