Highway bus terminal and night market coming to Ngapali

By Thiha 08 Jan 2021

Thiha | DMG
8 January 2021, Ngapali

A bus terminal and night market will be built in Ngapali town, which hosts the popular beach of the same name in Thandwe Township, in an effort to bolster area tourism, said U Ye Aung Moe, manager of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism in Arakan State.

The twin facilities will be built on land that was part of a large rubber plantation owned by the Ministry of Industry, he said, adding that it is along the road linking the towns of Thandwe and Ngapali.

“The rubber trees are wild and latex cannot come out. The Arakan State government is negotiating with the relevant ministry to return the land for the project. The project was also submitted to the President’s Office and it responded to us to negotiate with the relevant ministry,” U Ye Aung Moe said.

The project can be implemented after negotiations between the Arakan State government and the relevant ministry are successfully concluded, he said.

There is no bus terminal currently in Ngapali town. Buses instead have to stop at Dwarawati bus terminal in Thandwe town, which is narrow and causes some buses difficulty when making stops there, said Ko Thit Lwin Phyo, a Ngapali resident.

“We want to have a wide bus terminal in our town. Since the town is developing, the number of buses coming to town is increasing. So, buses are facing difficulty to park,” he said.

Ko Thit Lwin Phyo added that the night market could become an additional draw for tourists in Ngapali, generating income for local people.

“The night market will become a tourist destination with souvenirs, marine products and traditional snacks,” he said.

Arakan State’s Directorate of Hotels and Tourism said it has been working to promote the tourism industry in Thandwe and other townships in the state.