Chapter I Introduction

The aim of this chapter is to introduce this research work and to show its road map, such as background of the study, statement of research problem, objective of the study, research hypothesis, conceptual frame work, scope and limitation of study, result to be obtained. It will bring systematic approach and research procedure to the readers.

1.1 Background of the study

Inle Lake is Myanmar’s first designated place of World Network of Biosphere Reserves and an amazing freshwater lake and bears floating villages and gardens. It locates in the Nyaungshwe Township of Taunggyi District of Shan State, portion of Shan Hills in Myanmar (Burma). It is the second largest lake in Myanmar with an estimated surface area of 44.9 square miles (116 km2), and one of the highest at an elevation of 2,900 feet (880 m). In summer, the average water depth is 7 feet (2.1 m) with the deepest point being 12 feet (3.7 m), whereas during the rainy season this can increase by 5 feet (1.5 m). The watershed area for the lake lies to a large extent to the north and west of the lake. The lake drains through two mountains; the Nam Pilu or Balu Chaung on its southern Shan hills and carries amazing natural beauty for itself and decorates the nation.

This lake is well-known because its floating villages, gardens and markets, stupas galore, monasteries along with traditional hand-woven textiles and the unique way of life of the local people with their functioning communities based entirely on the water-logged area.

The lake contains a number of endemic species and over twenty species of snails and nine species of fish are found nowhere else in the world. Some of these, like the silver-blue scaleless Sawbwa barb, the crossbanded dwarf danio, and the Lake Inle danio, are of minor commercial importance for the aquarium trade. In November, December and January, it hosts approximately 20,000 brown and black head migratory seagulls as well. The Lake is also known as a wildlife sanctuary and there is a valuable experience for visitors and that is to see thousands of water-birds such as the spectacular Pheasant-tailed Jacana. Most of birds are found there and birds seem either as migration or breeding land in Inle Lake. The access to Inle Lake are three ways; bus, train and air. Yangon to Nyaung Shwe is, 430 miles by car, Yangon to Heho, takes 335 miles by air way and Heho to Nyaung Shwe spends14 miles by car and Yangon via Thazi to Shwe Nyaung, 320 miles by train and Shwe Nyaung to Nyaung Shwe takes10 miles by car. The breathe-taking views encourage visitors to take bus or train to experience the real nature of Myanmar.

In Inle Lake tourism industry, there are 84 properties—hotels, resorts, inns and guest houses, serving friendly staff, excellent English and very helpful. The visitors can choose any types of accommodations accordingly their preference and expenditure.

This study will explore the factors that attract tourists to visit Inle Lake, which is a different world from the rest of Myanmar and if most of the tourists would like to visit this place during their vacation to Myanmar. This study aims to discover what main factors attract tourists to visit Inle Lake as a tourist destination, to determine what mode of transportation they prefer to use to come to Inle Lake and what mode of local transportations they used mostly in Inle Lake or either number of transportation in Inle Lake has met tourists’ demands or not, and to identify what kind of accommodation they frequently stayed at in the Inle Lake area.

1.2 Statement of research problem The research questions that inform this study are: • What are the main factors that attract to visitors to Inle Lake? • What mode of transportation do they mostly use? • What kinds of accommodation do they frequently stay at Inle region?

1.3 Objective of the study The objectives of this study are: • To identify the main factors that attract visitors to Inle Lake. • To determine what mode of transportation they mostly used and whether modes of local transportation meet their demands. • To explore what kind of accommodation they most frequently stay at in the Inle region and whether it supplies enough satisfaction to meet their demands.

1.4 Research Hypothesis This research paper is mainly deals with the Travel & Tourism industry which pays an important role for the future development of economics in Myanmar. Inle Lake is one of most attractive tourist destinations in Myanmar. To make decisions where to go the travelers usually tries to identify the attractiveness of a place, the mode of transportation, and the possible accommodations. They also keep into consideration their bargaining power, time, and value of money, culture and the eventual satisfaction they will get. The study will help to know the opportunities for Inle Lake Travel & Tourism industry and will help to set good future strategies and to develop performance of this sector that effects the local economic growth and national income as a whole. The null and alternate statement are as follow:

H0: There is no relationship between attracting factors and Inle Lake Tourism Industry.

H1: There is a relationship between attracting factors and Inle Lake Tourism Industry.

H0: There is no relationship between the mode of transportation and Inle Lake Tourism Industry.

H1: There is a relationship between the mode of transportation and Inle Lake Tourism

Industry.

H0: There is no relationship between the mode of accommodation and Inle Lake Tourism Industry.

H1: There is a relationship between the mode of accommodation and Inle Lake Tourism

Industry.

1.5 Conceptual Framework

In this research paper, there are four independent variables factors excluding demographics: transportation, accommodation and attractive factors which will explore impact on independent variable: Inle Lake tourist destination.

Demographics includes about gender, age, education, income, occupation, and marital status and the difference of their gender, age, education, income, occupation, and marital status will define the interesting, preferences, decision making, and expenditure in Inle Lake Myanmar.

The transportation sectors, different types of accommodations and attractive factors will bring visitors’ rate to diminish or lengthen.

Y= D (Demographics) +O (Other factors)

Independence Variables Dependence Variable

Demographics: gender, age,

education, material status, occupation and income

Y (Inle

Lake)

Other Factors: attractive factors, accommodation and transportation

1.6 Scope and Limitation of Study The study will focus on to identify the main factors that attracts visitors to Inle Lake, including the mode of transportation they mostly used and whether modes of local transportation meet their demands. It will see what kind of accommodations they most frequently stayed in during their visit in the Inle region and whether it lived up to their expectations or not. Finally, it will be measure visitors' level of satisfaction and draw the finding result and recommendation as well.

1.7 Result to be obtained

As the Tourism industry is likely to become the backbone of Myanmar, this paper will explore the decoration of Inle Lake tourism sector as follow:

• To identify the main factors that attracts visitors to Inle Lake. • To determine what mode of transportation they mostly used and whether modes of local transportation meet their demands. • To explore what kind of accommodation they most frequently stay in the Inle region and whether it supplies enough satisfaction to meet their demands.

This research work will help readers to add the existing knowledge of main reasons that catch domestic and international tourist to pay visit Inle Lake whilst clarification of visitors’ preference of transportation and accommodation. It also will contribute to the participants the present functions and future trends of Inle Lake tourism industry and can be made as useful tool to their works. It aims to be relevant to the area of discussion, sizeable and scalable based on the objectives and practical application for the participants.