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Finalists - 2018 MRTA National Tourism Awards;
Irrawaddy Voyages has reached the finals of the MRTA Awards in the category of ‘Best Responsible Tour Operator’ for 2018. The first MRTA Awards were held in 2017 and are now regarded as the leading national awards program in Myanmar. This nationwide award program is initiated by the Myanmar Responsible Tourism Institute (MRTI) based in Yangon.
Speaking at the unveiling of the shortlist, Ko Nyunt (Chairman of MRTI) said “The purpose of MRTA is to inspire, educate and encourage competition in the tourism industry. Responsible tourism is about making better places for people to live in, and better places for people to visit by generating meaningful social, economic and environmental benefits. Because great places to live in with their natural and cultural heritage are great places to visit.”
“MRTI congratulates all the shortlisted candidates on their significant achievement. They will now advance to the next stage. They can expect to be visited on site by our assessors for verification of claims, before the independent panel of judges will meet to review all findings and decide the winner for each of the six categories”.
Irrawaddy Voyages Managing Director Ms Aye Thuzar Thant said; “We are absolutely delighted to be in the finals of the MRTA awards 2018. This is just the beginning as we continue our commitment to sustainable tourism by practically implementing our policies day by day.”
The final winners will be announced at a gala special event on 11th December in Yangon.
Protecting & Interacting with Burma’s retired elephants;
Commencing this 2018-19 season, Irrawaddy Voyages is working alongside the Palin River View Elephant Camp, on the outskirts of Bagan.
Over the past two years the practice of using elephants for hauling trees for the timber industry ended when legislation was passed to protect the nation’s forests. Consequently Burma’s elephants have now become unemployed and obsolete.
The MTE (Myanmar Timber Enterprise) has recently made innovative decisions to establish elephant camps around the country, ensuring the elephants are cared for, active and healthy. The Palin River View Camp was the first to open and now welcomes many young Burmese visitors who experience elephants up close and learn about their environment.
This nature camp is located on the river bank enabling Irrawaddy Voyages to maneuver our vessels close to the elephant’s daily bathing spots. Without negative impact on their well-being or habitat, our guests & crew are able to witness these magnificent mammals wallowing in the cool waters of the Palin River.
Fees donated to the MTE by Irrawaddy Voyages ensure that each of the six elephants receive their required daily food intake. This symbiotic relationship ensures a sustainable existence for years to come.
Community Engagement policy
Our Vision
Irrawaddy Voyages believes that tourism on and around the Irrawaddy River should build a respectful and mutually beneficial relationship between travelers, businesses and the local communities. We already play an active role in providing financial benefits for local people through employment, local purchasing and delivering opportunities for our guests to support local communities. We will help to preserve the many cultures, ethnic minorities and traditions that exist along the riverbanks for future generations, as well as educate our guests about these unique characteristics. We care about the social welfare of our community and the protection of our shared natural environment.
Irrawaddy Voyages Sustainable Policies 2018
Irrawaddy Voyages off¬ers guests a genuine nature based travel experience in a stylish and luxurious cruising environment. At all times we adopt a Safety First Policy 24/7. This applies not only to our onboard guests but to our ships crews. We pride ourselves on ensuring that every guest receives a warm and friendly welcome, a high level of comfort and excellent service. We also believe in delivering a responsible tourism experience that is environmentally friendly and gives back to the river communities. Our sustainable policies promote environmentally friendly operations that contribute to the protection of our natural and cultural heritage. We continuously strive to be a fair employer that promotes local recruitment and promotion.
