Super Hotel Myanmar Thilawa started serving visitors last month, a representative of the hotel told The Myanmar Times.

The four-storey project, involving US$13.5 million (1.5 billion yen) investment, is part of the Osaka-based Super Hotel chain, which already operates one lodging in Mayangone township. The new 129-bedroom hotel based in Thanlyin-Kyauktan townships includes two restaurants, a jacuzzi and hot spring bath, a fitness centre, an outdoor garden, airport shuttle, free parking and free Wifi in all areas within the vicinity. There is also a convenience store on site. Daily rates start from $110 per night.

Thilawa SEZ is a Japan-led public-private partnership – the Myanmar and Japanese governments each has a 10 percent stake while a consortium of nine local companies – the Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings (MTSH) – controls 41pc stake and a Japanese private consortium owns the remaining 39pc. To date, it is the only SEZ in operation in the country.

This is the first hospitality project in Thilawa which is set to cater for visitors. Until now, business travellers to the SEZ often stay in Star City, a satellite real estate area near Thanlyin River. Developed by Singapore-listed Yoma Strategic, the mixed-use project consists of six blocks of apartments totalling 900 units, and includes facilities such as a supermarket, cafes and restaurants, golf course, a swimming pool, a clinic and gym. Overall, it covers 197.5 hectares and is among the largest in Yangon Region.

A lot of factory managers based in the SEZ live in Star City owing to its proximity.

Right beside Star City is the six-building Galaxy Towers complex, with 1038 residential units. In addition, affordable housing projects in the area are expected to be available for sale later this year.

Road connectivity between downtown Yangon and the Thanlyin-Thilawa area is beset by limited capacity of the one-lane Thanlyin Bridge. Traffic is expected to ease in a few years with a new bridge across Bago River, which is financed by a loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). A jetty is also planned in Thanlyin.

Source: Myanmar Times