Khiri Travel expands into Myanmar
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The Khiri Travel Group has the opening of its first office in Myanmar. The new office opens in Yangon in August 2011, and will expand the destination management company’s presence to eight offices in five countries – Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar. The new office will be headed up by Edwin Briels, who previously worked for Air Mandalay and Exotissimo Travel.
Khiri Travel’s Group CEO and co-founder, Willem Niemeijer, said that the timing was right for the Myanmar move. “It is important to have the right people in place, so we can deliver the high quality travel experiences that our clients are used to in Myanmar, right from the start,” he said. “In Edwin, we have a highly experienced Myanmar operator. People around the world are also starting to look at Myanmar with fresh eyes. The time is right.”
Briels, a Dutch national, has six years’ working experience in Myanmar. He joins Khiri Travel from Air Mandalay, and previously worked for Exotissimo Travel in Myanmar as well as Balloons over Bagan. Between 2007 and 2010 Briels was General Manager of Exotissimo Thailand. In 2006 Briels was project manager for the construction of Malikha lodge, a luxury eight-villa property in the remote Putao valley of northern Myanmar.
“Khiri Myanmar will open with many innovative travel offerings from around the fringes of the country,” said Briels. “Thibaw and Kyaukme in Northern Shan State, the wonderful southern Shan State, Mrauk U, and the Rakhine Mountains will all be available as well as favourites such as Bagan, Mandalay and Inle. Being Khiri, our approach will be to deliver an innovative and responsible take on each place.”
For example, a visit to Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon with Khiri Myanmar will also involve a traditional breakfast, strolling through the market in the small alleys around the pagoda, and Buddhist offerings by the clients in the pagoda itself. A native antique connoisseur is also available to give his insights on colonial residences in Pyin Oo Lwin. The idea is to enable customer to experience the ‘real Myanmar’.
“Better facilities and infrastructure in the country means that it is easier to visit more places,” said Briels. “It’s a very exciting time to be launching new travel experiences for our clients.”
Khiri Reach, the company’s charitable arm, will also soon announce its support for a community cause in Myanmar.
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