Why Visit Myanmar and
buy Myanmar Products?

Some people - especially members of the Western Press - question the ethics of buying Myanmar products or visiting Myanmar: these people have obviously never been to the country to experience first hand Myanmar and it's peoples. Until cyclone Nargis tourism was increasing year by year in this beautiful country but since the adverse publicity in the Western media about the cyclone and its aftermath tourism numbers dwindled and AGAIN people were put out of a job thanks to the West. Luckily in the 2009/2010 season the number of tourists was the highest ever and it wasn't possible to get a flight between Yangon and Bangkok for the whole of January - people back to work!! We all know the Press/Media love to sensationalise events - that’s how they sell newspapers and advertising space. Rather the same as the BBC and CNN coverage of the problems in Bangkok in 2010 - similarly biased...

...and the BBC top people went to Bangkok to apologise to the Prime Minister - Haha!

There are also various anti-Myanmar campaigns around the world usually led by people sitting in their ivory towers and supported by Western Governments - they sure know how to keep the Myanmar people poor and I hope that one day, when they are older and wiser they will reflect and regret their actions against innocent people.

Due to our activities there are many direct benefits to the local populace, the most important of these being jobs. We employ local people and buy from local artisans who are then able to support their families - how else can they give that support? And the owners of the companies in Myanmar are Myanmar people themselves.

There are no restrictions on visitors' movements in most places in Myanmar and visitors are free to chat and interact with the local peoples despite what you read in the press or hear on the BBC (where reporters sometimes whisper to give a false sense of danger). And now you can obtain a visa-on-arrival at Yangon airport.

The Government actively promotes conservation and have inaugurated a 20,000 sq Kilometer Tiger reserve in the north and declared a shark protection zone in the Myeik (Mergui) Archipelago because of illegal fishing. Although the Government has a conservation approach towards logging it's difficult protecting areas along the long land borders with China and Thailand. And sanctions reduce the amount of money available for forest protection. In fact it's cheaper to buy Myanmar teakwood in China than it is in Myanmar - that tells a story!

We totally oppose sanctions against Myanmar: we believe that ‘constructive engagement’ is more beneficial to the people of Myanmar in the long term. The benefits that tourism and trade bring to society are immeasurable and the Myanmar people show great hospitality and friendship despite their hardships. The subjective criteria used to justify sanctions may well ensure that most countries in the world should have sanctions applied against them!!

My experience is definitely contrary to what you hear in a lot of the world media: I have lived in South East Asia since time immemorial and over the years have observed all the vitriol which countries in this region have had to endure from some of the Western Press and Western Governments: Singapore is a prime example and look where the Singapore people are today.  Nothing has changed much at the top levels but Singapore is now the darling of the West - and so it should be!!

In all the 13 years I have been going to Myanmar I have NEVER ONCE been attacked, NEVER ONCE had anything stolen and NEVER ONCE had anyone even shout at me ~ despite the fact that the street lighting in Myanmar leaves a lot to be desired !! Try going out at night in Rhyl if you dare!!

And I almost NEVER hear screaming police car sirens!!

Come and see for yourself and confound the critics!! As we say SEEING IS BELIEVING!!

Gerry Haines
Managing Director
Road to Mandalay Ltd UK

See also here (which was the basis of - and motivation for - this article):

www.seal-asia.com/popups/burma-statement.htm

...for more enlightened views about Myanmar!!