Foreign air balloon fliers to explore Myanmar

A group of tourists, mostly Swiss citizens, will travel to and explore Myanmar by flying hot air balloons in late January, a local weekly report said Tuesday. With a total of seven balloons, a 30-member group including two parachutists, plans to jump in Inlay, Mandalay region and Bagan, said the Myanmar Times News. They will arrive in Yangon on Jan. 28 and leave on Feb. 11, the report added. The balloonists will take flights over Inlay, Mandalay, Pakokku and Bagan which are convenient for flying. The group participated in the Kachin Manaw Festival in Myitkyina and Kayah State Day in Loikaw in previous years. Other previous destinations included Monywa, Bago, Taunggyi, Pindaya and Mrauk-U. In 2010, led by Mr. Peter Blaser who is a Swiss businessman and also a European balloon champion, 28-member balloon fliers with their own seven hot air balloons flew over Heho, Bagan, Mandalay and Sagaing regions. The group has visited Myanmar since 1999.