ENGLISH DEYEA NEWS

by Nem Davies | New Delhi - Htoo Construction Company, owned by Burmese business tycoon Tay Za, is all set to construct a new airport near Ngwe Saung in Irrawaddy Division to promote tourism to the beach resort.

An official at the Htoo Company, which maintains close relations with the Burmese military junta, said surveying work for the airport's construction has already begun in the village of Thazin, close to the beach, in Bassein Township.

The new airport, which will take three years to complete, will service charter flights, domestic flights and international flights via Rangoon.

While the official declined to elaborate on the company's motivations behind the construction, sources said Htoo Company, which owns the international and domestic air carrier AirBagan, is keen on developing the beach, where it also has hotels and resorts and a near monopoly over the tourism industry in the area.

Visitors to Ngwe Saung beach, about 29 miles south of Bassein Town, said there are at least five large and international standard hotels along the Bay of Bengal waterfront and the virgin natural scenery is even better in Ngwe Saung than along Chaung Thar beach, located a short distance to the north.

However, some visitors tell of the prevalence of insects and snakes along the beach as a deterrent to visiting, along with the unequal depth of water along the coastline. Yet, its natural beauty was left undisturbed by Cyclone Nargis, which ravaged other areas of the delta region in early May.

Burma's nascent tourism industry, which already suffered a heavy blow in the wake of the September 2007 monk-led protests, was further hit hard by the cyclone. Tour operators say that so far they have not received any bookings to visit Ngwe Saung during the peak tourist season, which runs from September to March.

The United State has placed Tay Za, owner of the Htoo Company, on the list of individuals targeted for financial sanctions due to his close association with Burma's ruling military generals.