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1. This History Thread is about Tourism in Burma (Myanmar.) It includes some of the problems that have been associated with tourism (as well as some cool vintage posters.) Environmental safeguards, #LandRights needed for sustainable equitable return of tourism to Myanmar (Burma.)
2. Independent lands later border-defined as Burma were traveled by nomads, traders, pilgrims. Early Chinese travelers arrived by land, sea. 9th C. Persian & Arab seafarers visited Arakan, Pegu. Nicolo di Conti (Venice) in Arakan 1435. Russian & Genoese seafarers later in 15th C.
3. 16th-17th C. Dutch/Portuguese/English contact followed by 19th C. British conquest. Foreigners’ Burma tourism leisure trips to archeological sites, hunting parties & other excursions. Disrespect for local religious customs was an issue. "Shoe question": https://www.myanmore.com/2019/05/the-shoe-question-in-colonial-burma/
4. Early 20th C. Burma was on steamship routes. In 1930s Akyab & Rangoon were important airline stopovers. Rangoon had sophisticated hotels like The Strand, theaters, nightlife. Famous visitors included Gertrude Bell, Somerset Maugham, Ruth St. Denis, Aldous Huxley, H.G. Wells.
5. During WW2 Japanese occupation, artist Konosuke Tamura & novelist Takami Jun published a travel book of vignettes of central Burma. American soldiers posted to Burma were issued tourist guide type booklets about local culture & history.
6. Post-WW2 Independent Burma reclaimed place on SE Asia tourist routes. International airlines flew to Rangoon. Union of Burma Airways national carrier founded 1948 w. domestic service (now Myanmar National Airlines.) 1954 “world’s 1st airline hijacking” by Karen National Union.
7. Gen. Ne Win seized power Burma 1962, isolationist economic control. Tourists restricted to 1 day, later 1 week stay. Many areas off limits. Few tour groups, some intrepid backpackers. Those who traveled Rangoon/Pagan/Mandalay included me in early 80s (stayed at rundown Strand)
8. Under the post-1988 SLORC/SPDC junta, Myanmar (Burma) tourism was promoted to earn hard currency. Forced labor was used on infrastructure for junta’s 1996 “Visit Myanmar Year.” So a boycott tourism campaign was endorsed by then opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
9. Myanmar tourism boycott was controversial as small businesses affected. Some “ethical travelers” just avoided govt-owned hotels. Strand Hotel got a deluxe makeover. Colonial nostalgia luxury riverboat tours, ballooning, etc. for very non-budget market. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/02/travel/myanmar-cruise-hints-at-past.html
10. Myanmar tourism boom began w. Gen. Thein Sein govt from 2011 & Aung Suu Kyi NLD winning 2015 election. Magazine articles drenched in exotic romanticism urged visiting “an unspoiled land.” Hotel construction frenzy, more flight connections, new domestic/international airlines
11. Most of Myanmar opened up to tourism. Homestays restricted but many guesthouses, cafes for travelers. Expats & local people promote adventure tourism including less visited areas (Tenasserim, Chin St., Sagaing) often by motorcycle or public transport. https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/a-journey-down-the-chindwin/
12. Foreign tourists have gotten in trouble in Myanmar for having Buddha image tattoos, unplugging noisy temple speaker, disrespectful photos. China is major source of group tours but some behavior & “zero $” lack of in-country spending can be problematic. https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/analysis/badly-behaved-chinese-tourists-draw-local-ire-in-myanmar.html
13. Cross-border Myanmar tourism is associated with gambling casinos (can be violent extortion, exploitive sex work) & sale of rare/endangered wildlife products. China border w. Shan St. & Thailand border current controversial Karen St. Shwe Kokko project. https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/the-kokang-casino-dream/
14. Biodiverse, scenic Myanmar has ecotourism potential but tourism development damages destinations like Inle Lake, Ngapali Beach. Marginalized peoples such as sea nomadic Mokens often disrespected, exploited, physically/culturally endangered by tourism. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/4/140407-myanmar-tourism-inle-lake-pollution-fish-environment/
15. Revulsion at Myanmar govt/military 2017 genocidal attacks on Rohingyas caused steep plunge in tourist arrivals. In 2020 COVID-19 measures halted entire tourism sector from small walking tour & trekking outfits to shuttered 5 star Sule Shangri-La Hotel. https://www.mmtimes.com/news/bringing-back-yangons-walking-tours.html
16/16. My Burma (Myanmar) travel suggestions: n. Chin State, nw Sagaing; wish list: Moulmein, Mrauk Oo. My political/travel narrative Burma books are “Burmese Looking Glass” & “Down the Rat Hole.” Links to my previous Burma History Threads & reports at: http://www.projectmaje.org
