When Allan Aung Khang Kyaw returned to Yangon in 2023 to take over his family’s travel agency, he never imagined he’d be doing so under the shadow of civil war.
“Talk about timing,” said Allan, who had spent six years studying business/management and working in the UK before deciding to join Nice Fare Travel, the retail agency his parents founded in 2004. “My parents asked me to help with a presentation to an airline, and I thought — being the only son, maybe it’s time I stepped up.”
But just as Allan began learning the ropes, political unrest intensified, and civil conflict broke out in Myanmar’s outer provinces. The result: inbound tourism collapsed, and many operators closed their doors.
“Life in the city goes on as normal,” he said. “But in the rural areas, it’s a different story.”
Despite the crisis, Allan remains hopeful and determined. With 70% of Nice Fare’s business focused on outbound travel, the agency stayed afloat — even as airlines pulled out and options became scarce.
“We still see outbound travel happening, especially with Myanmar International. It’s a limited market, but we’re holding on.”
Resilience built in
Allan draws strength from his parents, Thwin Htoo Aung and Thandar Lay Naing, who are still active in the business and who’ve weathered every storm, from economic disruptions to the pandemic.
“We’re no strangers to crises in Myanmar. During COVID, we didn’t lay off staff, we used the time to strengthen our foundations.” Now, Allan is doing the same – investing in research and development, international partnerships, and tech upgrades to modernize the business.
“We’re the largest B2B wholesaler in Myanmar with 300 sub-agents. And we’re in talks with OTAs across Asia, including China.”
Nice Fare Travel Teams
Investing in the Next Generation
Recognizing the need to nurture future talent, Allan has established a vocational training centre focused on tourism and ticketing. The goal: equip young people with skills in customer service and product development.
“There’s so much potential here. But we’re about 10 years behind in tech. Everything’s still manual. That’s where I see opportunity, to leapfrog through innovation.”
A team worth building with
Allan leads a team of 80, many of whom have been with the company since its early days. His mentor is Chu Maung Maung, the head of ticketing sales.
“When Allan first joined, he didn’t know much,” Chu said with a smile. “Now he’s talking like an expert. He’s curious, always asking questions.”
That mutual respect defines the company’s culture.
“Trust and loyalty are everything,” said Allan. “This isn’t just my parents’ business; I truly enjoy working with the team.”
“We’re using this time to prepare. And when the moment comes, we’ll be ready to go, full charge ahead.”
