THE Saleaintan Beach, the closest beach to Yangon, offers a chance to make a day-trip for the people, and stalls are being prepared at the beach for the visitors during the Thadingyut holidays.
The beach is famous for its beauty and long sandy beach, the local dish called ‘Ngathalauk Ohmauk’, and if proper preparations are made, it can host higher numbers of visitors like Ngwehsaung and Chaungtha beaches and create job opportunities for locals. Tourism growth can lead to regional development, bringing benefits to locals, as considered by tourism entrepreneurs.
“The Saleaintan Beach is one of the closest relaxation spots for the people of Yangon. For this Thadingyut holiday, locals are already preparing to welcome visitors who will come for relaxation. Just like last year, there are also concerns among locals about the rough tides. As one of the closest seaside beaches to the city, it is also a place that brings peace of mind and tranquillity. It is not easy for a beach to remain in its natural state. If the current beach can be beautified, it could attract visitors daily, becoming a leisure destination that benefits both the country and the locals,” said U Dhana Aung, a guesthouse owner on the Saleaintan Beach.
The beach hosted high numbers of visitors from Yangon during the Thadingyut holidays last year, and the locals earned well. On the full moon day of Thadingyut, 17 October, the beach was hit by huge tides, and the people could not relax fully during the holidays. Some of the people are worried about the tide on the full moon day of Thadingyut, 7 October, and some are just waiting to open the shops.
The beach is mostly crowded during Thingyan, the New Year holidays and festivals. Recently, some parts of the beach have had formation of sandbank and growth of grass, leading to a decline in visitor numbers. However, as it remains the only beach where the beauty of the sea can be experienced from Yangon, local shop owners are preparing in advance for the visitors during the Thadingyut holidays. Starting from the Thadingyut holiday season, the beach will once again become a destination for travellers throughout the dry season. — Aung Than Oo/KTZH
