Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Such a discussion is beginning to happen. An international conference on re-
sponsible tourism was held in Nay Pyi Taw in Febuary 2012, sponsored by Ger-
many's Hanns Seidel Foundation and the UK-registered NGO, International Centre
for Responsible Tourism. In August 2013 the Irrawaddyalso reported that the Min-
istry of Hotels and Tourism is working to educate citizens about tourism's darker
side, but needs cooperation from civil society and local communities to get the
message out.
Charity & Direct-Aid Volunteerism
Tourism isn't going to fix all of Myanmar's problems, of course, but there are some
small things you can do to help during your visit.
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Ask guesthouse owners, agents, teachers and monks about where you can donate
money for medical or school supplies.
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Stop at a village school and ask what materials they lack. Often less than $100 can get
a book, notepad and pen for every student needing them.
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Patronise socially responsible businesses that support charitable causes.
Outside of small donations, some NGOs prefer tourists to stick with their trips and leave
bigger projects for them. But we've also encountered travellers who have acted as
'direct-aid volunteers'. They felt there wasn't time to wait for aid to reach locals, so they
come twice yearly to fund projects on their own. One, who has built and overseen many
new school projects, told us: 'When I finish one, I only have to drive 10 minutes to the
next village to find another in need.'
In
Tony Wheeler's Bad Lands
the founder of Lonely Planet writes about how he and
his wife financed the construction of a 300m wooden bridge connecting the floating vil-
lage of Maing Thauk to land at Inle Lake.
Giving Gifts & Donations
Travellers handing out sweets, pens or money to kids on hiking trails or outside attrac-
tions have had a negative impact (as you'll certainly see when begging kids follow you
around a pagoda). It's not the best way to contribute to those in need, and many locals
will advise you not to give to children anyway. If you want to hand out useful items keep
this in mind:
