The number of foreign tourists taking a boat trip to Myanmar's central town of Mingun has more than doubled this rainy season compared to last year, according to the Tourist Ferryboat Association based at Mandalay's Mayanchan Jetty.
About 300 tourists take the ferry from Mayanchan Jetty to Mingun every day. June to October is normally the off-peak season for tourism in the country, and it is when ferryboats on the Ayeyarwaddy River take a break from their daily business. But this rainy season is keeping the boats busy almost every day.
"In previous years, nearly all ferryboats stop their business at this time. But during this rainy season, tourists are continuously arriving here. Most - if not all - of the boats are transporting about 300 foreign tourists a day," said Thet Tun, chairperson of the association.
Most of the tourists who have visited Mingun in previous rainy seasons have been Spanish and Italian. This year, Chinese and Thai tourists are also paying a visit to the place, which is famous for its monuments of historical and cultural importance.
Mingun is located on the west bank of Ayeyarwaddy River in Sagaing Region. It is about 11 kilometers north of Mandalay and can be reached by road or ferryboat. Historical pagodas like the Mingun Pahtodawgyi and Myatheindan Pagoda are the most famous tourist destinations in Mingun. What is claimed to be the world's largest ringing bell called the "Mingun Bell" is also located there.