Tourism

Dolphin watching tourism in Myanmar still stands as a prominent business attracting a large number of local and foreign visitors, according to the Department of Fisheries (DOF) in Nay Pyi Taw.

Irrawaddy dolphin, which can be found mostly in Ayeyawady River in Myanmar and Mekong River, is a jewel for the country. The largest number dolphin watchers annually come to Myanmar and Cambodia to visit Irrawaddy dolphins swimming or helping fishermen in Ayeyawady River in the former and Mekong in the latter.

“Irrawaddy dolphin is included in the tourism attractions of Myanmar as the marine mammals have a large number of local and foreign visitors every year. Mandalay-Bhamo chartered cruise on the Ayeyawady includes dolphin watching, apart from sightseeing along the route. There are also specific dolphin watching tours as the part of the river along the route which is the home to these intelligent marine mammals. Visitors, especially the foreigners, want to enjoy the scene of dolphins helping local fishermen catching fish with their traditional nets. In fact, it is the unique characteristics of the Irrawaddy dolphins. Myanmar and Cambodia are the only two countries in Asia which can showcase their admirable marine mammals,” said an official of the environment and rare marine species conservation division of the DOF.

Annually, between 700 and 1,000 foreigner dolphin watchers visit the mammals found in Kyaukmyaung region in Mandalay Region of the Ayeyawady River after the international interested in the dolphins increased in 2008. After the establishment of a communitybased tourism centre in the area, over 1,000 foreigners come to Myanmar for dolphin-only visit. DOF and Wildlife Conservation Society jointly set up the community-based tourism centre and a 12-visitor capacity guesthouse at Innaung Village on the bank of the Ayeyawady in Wetlet Township, Sagaing Region where motorboats for dolphin visitors and local products are available. The community-based tourism centres provided a lot of economic benefits for the locals.

Tourism industry will resurge with greater momentum in the post-COVID-19 period. It will be an eye-catching tourism tour where visitors can witness the unique characteristics of the dolphins and the mutually beneficial relationship between the wonderful mammals and fishermen.

When the marine mammals slap their heads or tails against the water, it cues the fishermen to cast their nets, which in turn breaks up the schools and makes individual fish easier for the dolphins to catch. Scientists have known about this mutually beneficial relationship since the 1980s.

Lin Khant