In near future the South of Myanmar very likely will develop to one of Southeast Asia's most important aqua-tourism centres. The new runway at the airport of Kawthoung will serve big airplanes and there are some plans already to start jet-flights into Kawthoung either from Bangkok/Phuket or from Yangon. A highway connecting the airport with the small town is under construction. By boat one may reach Thailand, from Kawthoung, within 20 minutes only. Since the border is open now the opposite way is also possible. Close to Kawthaung are many islands with white sand beaches fringed with coconut palms and blue sea. Most of these islands, like Lampi, are far away from the coastline because the water there is not clear. The development of facilities for aqua-tourism-as there are hotels, ferry boats and so on - did not really start yet. But there are already some Phuket-based charter-boat companies using Kawthoung as port of all. Their yachts are well-equipped with facilities for scuba diving and they offer three to five day sailing trips in this fascinating world of Myanmar's south.

DAWEI ( TAVOY )
Capital of Tanintharyi Division is the southern most administrative region in the country. Adjacent to Mon State to the north and Thailand to the east. Tanintharyi Division occupies a long narrow coastal plain bounded by the Andaman Sea in the east, which runs to Kawthaung, the most southerly point of Myanmar and which then continues to the Malaya Peninsula. The coast is dotted with islands including the Heinze group, the Maung-Magan group and the Myeik or Mergui Archipelago, which comprises more than 800 beautiful and attractive islands. A port of medium importance and tropical seaside town, 384 miles south of Yangon. The Maungmagan beach is now being developed and upgraded is just 8 miles northwest and is famous for delicious seafood. Native speak Myanmar language but with a strong dialect, which is similar to Myeik. The most venerated pagodas are the Shin Motehti Pagoda, a few miles south of the town, Shin Datweh Pagoda in the north and Shin Maw Pagoda on the Dawei promontory. A 243-foot long reclining Buddha image occupies the Lawka Tharaphu Pagoda. In the 18th Century a group of Dawei people known as Inthas or Sons of the Lake, migrated to Inle to avoid the continual conflicts between the Myanmar and Thais. Thus the Inthas were appear in Inle Lake in the southern Shan State.

MAUNGMAGAN BEACH
Maung-ma-gan Beach is long and shallow, located on the Taninthayi coast in the south of Myanmar. It is totally un-spoilt, but is currently under development. It is reached from Dawei, which is a 75-minute flight away from Yangon.

MYEIK (PEARL OF THE ARCHIPELAGO)
A port city used to be crowded with a cosmopolitan crowd of Thai, Chinese, Indian, Malay, Portuguese, Dutch, French and English. The settlements are Bahmar, Mon, Shan and some Kayins who speak Bahmar language but with a strong Myeik dialects. Taninthayi is one of the eight hundred and ten islands of the Myeik Archipelago which runs from Mali Island in the north to Zardetgyi Island south-west of Byinnaung Point where Myanma land's end. Most of the islands are uninhabited. Used to be one of the major back-door trading center with Thailand during Myannma isolation period. Exports from Myeik include tin, tungsten, dried fish, dried prawns, Ngapi or fish paste, salt and rubber that is particularly important to the regional economy. Tanintharyi has been the country's largest rubber producer since first introduced into Myanmar via Myeik port in 1876. Edible birds' nests made from the protein-rich saliva of swift lets are an exotic and valuable product of the region. The Myeik Archipelago, which includes over 800 pleasant and enchanting islands, lies in the Andaman Sea along the south Tanintharyi coast. The Salone are a tribe inhabiting the Archipelago. These sea gypsies live in their small boats or in houses built on stilts located not on land but in the sea along the coast. They are expert divers and make a living searching for oysters and mother-of-pearl. Pearl diving and the development of a cultured pearl industry on some of these islands, particularly Pale Kyun (Pearl Island) 85 miles south of Myeik. Lampi Island, 65 miles by 30 miles with mountain ranges of 1500 feet above sea level, boasts lovely beaches, coral reefs, clear water and undisturbed wild life and is being turned into a Marine National Park to attract eco tourists.