Myanmar is supposedly one of the most unethical holidays of all time. The argument goes that during the 90’s the government used forced labour to build airports, roads and hotels. The British seem to be the only ones who care. Everyone else visits.
On a positive side, we felt we could travel without giving money to a clearly corrupt government. Well, that didn’t quite work out – the entrance fees and taxes for one. But having been to Tibet, Cambodia and Laos we made more of an effort here I think to direct our $ into locally run businesses.
I think our argument would be that it is an opportunity to show the people that the outside world has not forgotten them, the smiles on kids faces when you show them pictures of home, family and pets. We’ve chatted to monks and business owners who are happy to tell you that after 2 bad years with no visitors (first the cyclone and then Bangkok airport being closed), the only people being hurt by a lack of tourists are the locals. India and China are still pouring money into the government coffers at a far greater rate,
What you get is a country that is stuck in the past. Carts drawn by Ox and horse, 1000 yr old temples and some terrible unpaved roads. The food is terrible. The religion obsessive and generally tacky. But it’s a great country with great people. Well worth a trip.
On a positive side, we felt we could travel without giving money to a clearly corrupt government. Well, that didn’t quite work out – the entrance fees and taxes for one. But having been to Tibet, Cambodia and Laos we made more of an effort here I think to direct our $ into locally run businesses.
I think our argument would be that it is an opportunity to show the people that the outside world has not forgotten them, the smiles on kids faces when you show them pictures of home, family and pets. We’ve chatted to monks and business owners who are happy to tell you that after 2 bad years with no visitors (first the cyclone and then Bangkok airport being closed), the only people being hurt by a lack of tourists are the locals. India and China are still pouring money into the government coffers at a far greater rate,
What you get is a country that is stuck in the past. Carts drawn by Ox and horse, 1000 yr old temples and some terrible unpaved roads. The food is terrible. The religion obsessive and generally tacky. But it’s a great country with great people. Well worth a trip.
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