The original deadline set by the Myanmar Ministry of Culture for the switch back to Kyat was the 1 November. The admission fee is currently US$20. The change to the US greenback only took place in January of this year.
News sources in Bagan say setting the entry fee in dollars has led to the devaluation of the Kyat as other tourism businesses are also charging for their services in dollars. Another key issue has been the fact many tourists paying in dollars do not have access to the crisp, clean banknotes the national bank requires.
The Central Bank of Myanmar refuses any US$ banknotes which are stained, creased, torn or have been stamped in any way. This issue is believed to have been the principal reason the bank has recommended swapping back to Kyat.
Bagan is home to more than 2,000 temples, pagodas and other historical monuments which are more than 1,000 years old. It is one of the most visited attractions in Myanmar and saw a quarter of a million tourists in 2014.
Bagan sets deadline for entry fee swap to Myanmar currency
News in Asia
Tourism authorities in Myanmar have set a new deadline for when tourists will have to pay in local currency to enter the historic city of Bagan. The changeover is scheduled for 1 January 2016. From this date, visitors will be required to pay MMK25,000 to enter the historical park in central Myanmar.