Kuoni Go Back To Burma

[Rinrada]

Bit of "travel"news from our friends down at the Burma Campaign-UK..

Food for thought when you buys your Tics.

Kuoni go back to Burma

The Burma Campaign UK today condemned travel firm Kuoni for planning to resume tours to Burma in 2005.

Kuoni had received widespread praise when it withdrew from Burma last year.

The company had stated it did not expect to return until democracy was restored.

In July last year the British Government backed calls by Aung San Suu Kyi and the Burma Campaign UK for tourists to stay away.

Foreign Office minister Mike O’Brien wrote to all British tour operators asking them to cease tours there.

“We are very angry that Kuoni have broken their word”, said Yvette Mahon, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “Than Shwe, the dictator of Burma, will be delighted by this news.

Money from the tourists Kuoni takes to Burma will go straight into his pockets.”

“They should not be funding a regime that uses rape, torture and murder against its own people.”

Kuoni will now be added to the ‘Dirty List’ of companies funding the regime in Burma. The Burma Campaign UK and other European campaign groups are also considering further action against the company including an international boycott.

and a couple of other naughties

STA (student travel)and Diethelm are helping to keep the Burmese dictatorship in power by providing them with a vital source of income,” said Beth Brockett, co-ordinator of the Burma Campaign student network.

and

Orient Express intends to Expand its Burma Interests

however..

The Railway Touring Company is the 7th travel company this year to pull out of Burma as well as Abercrombie & Kent, Intrepid Travel, Travelsphere, Scott Dunn Travel and Silk Steps who have all announced that they are ending tours there with Carnival / P&O reconsidering its cruises.

Tourism is an important source of income for the dictatorship in Burma, providing it with millions of pounds every year. The regime spends forty percent of its annual budget on the army.

Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has asked tourists not to visit Burma.

http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/

[SeaVisionBurma]

?We are very angry that Kuoni have broken their word?, said Yvette Mahon, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. ?Than Shwe, the dictator of Burma, will be delighted by this news.

Money from the tourists Kuoni takes to Burma will go straight into his pockets.?

I seriously doubt that Than Shwe is:

1. delighted by this news. I doubt he would even give it a second glance.

2. getting their money "Straight into his pockets" That is just completely poor wording - what do these blinkered journalists think? that he's waiting at the airport with his hand out? Give me a break.

Biased journalism is a waste of <deleted> time.

Potential tourists who listen to the hype about this country, and then heed it by staying away - don't deserve to come here anyway.

There are plenty of avenues for open-minded foreigners to enter the country, travel around, and see for their own eyes whether it's worth visiting or not. (it is)

There are also plenty of ways to see a good portion of the lesser traveled parts of the country, and meet and talk to local folks, and take in some local culture and sights.

Let's see what the next few weeks/months brings. There's much more than goes on here in Myanmar than is reported in some of the <deleted> news outside.

SVB (un-biased towards either side of the so-called political fence here, just a realist)

[Rinrada]

I was working in Basra in 1979 on a new construction project as part of the countries drive to bring in tourists.

All in all a really luvly place,lots of sunshine,nice people,good beer and even met Saddam Hussain once I thought he was a nice guy.

[NedKelly]

Does anyone have any breakdowns on where the money goes in Myanmar ? Most money in mainstream tourism all around the world goes into the hands of big businesses such as hotels and the like........smaller amounts go to locals. This is the nature of tourism wherever you are.

Many big hotels are part of huge companies with international configurations, so money flows right out of the country anyway. Myanmar is a worry because no-one really knows where the countries funds go, other than into the hands of the military and probably the swiss bank accounts of the leaders.

So until we can see some real figures here it will be difficult to defend Myanmar as a legitimate and responsible tourist destination.

[SeaVisionBurma]

Does anyone have any breakdowns on where the money goes in Myanmar ? Most money in mainstream tourism all around the world goes into the hands of big businesses such as hotels and the like........smaller amounts go to locals. This is the nature of tourism wherever you are.

Many big hotels are part of huge companies with international configurations, so money flows right out of the country anyway. Myanmar is a worry because no-one really knows where the countries funds go, other than into the hands of the military and probably the swiss bank accounts of the leaders.

Ned,

In one respect you're right - the multi-national tourism companies, running hotels and the like - certainly repatriate the majority of their funds outside the country.

But the increased employment which comes with more open & accessible tourism means that the ordinary worker increases their earnings, which directly benefits both them and their families. This can mean anybody from a tour guide, with direct contact - to housekeepers, laundry, cleaning, cooking and other tourist related staff all over the country where tourists go.

Other examples are craft makers etc, peddling their wares in small village stalls and markets (ie not governement owned overpriced souvenir shops). The tourist dollar has a chance of directly benefiting those who most need it.

The problem seems to be that most sceptics are too fast to jump on the "don't go there because your money is going directly into the big cats swiss bank account" bandwagon - which I feel does little to help the plight of the ordinary man/woman/child on the street. If you avoid coming to the country in the first place - then there's no chance at all that ANY money can go to the average person.

[phazey]

I really don't comment on a countries affairs when it's not my country, but sometimes things like this really get my goat. If people learnt to see in front of their noses then perhaps organisations like The Burma Campaign" - whos intentions are good - will just stop pushing issues and think a little more about the after affects.

Imagine the "Great victory" all these organisations celebrated when the Us Sancions were passed. Yeah what a result, stopping the exports and sales of goods manufactured in Myanmar. Well done!

What about the 160,000 garment workers who immediatly lost their jobs ? The 40,000 new sex workers on the scene - increasing the risk or HIV/AIDS and related illnesses ?

Cause and effect happens everywhere, why dont people just think about it ?

Sure it's ok to campaign about stuff, but i wish people like Yvette Mahon and Beth Brockett would come over and see how the lifestyles of the people they have "liberated" has deteriorated due to their lobbying campaigns.

Sorry for off topicness

[NedKelly]

Yes the do gooders who hark from other countries and have never visited a place first hand are really annoying. As are people who claim to know everything......i know a journalist who is like that and she annoys the crap out of everyone as she walks around criticising other peoples ideas......sh eis a turd of the worst variety.

Yes there is cause and effect everywhere. I agree that sanctions can be damaging. the people of Myanmar will cope however. But the long term effect will be devastating. If the people who demonstrate could put their efforts towards political interests and not businesses it may be better. Business is like sport......maygbe it should not be used for political gain.