Burmese Plea for Independent Tourist Support

Anyone who has been to Burma (Myanmar) over the last 15 years or so and visited the mystical Inle Lake situated on the high plateau of the Shan State would have stopped in at the most famous backpacker cafe in Nyong Shwe.  Called Pancake Kingdom and found by following signs through the back roads and pathways, the best banana-chocolate pancakes accompanied by fresh strawberries and forest-honey smoothies are a treat no one can resist.

Ko Naung, the owner of this cafe, also ran free english and computer classes for the children of the township during the rainy season and provides a lot of help and support to the local monasteries.  Since last September and now with the disaster of Cyclone Nargis tourism to Burma has dropped off to be non-existant.  Ko Naung is now driving a bus to support his family.

In the past there have been basically two catagories of tourists.  Package tours, mostly from Germany and Italy and other European countries accounts for most of the money brought into the country from tourism.  These tour groups generally come in for ten days and go to three basic places in Myanmar-Inle Lake, Bagan and Ngapali beach.  Their activities are very controlled, contained and streamlined to only involve a very narrow segment of the tourist industry.

The other group of tourists are called Free Independent Tourists (FIT) in Myanmar and are what most of us might call backpackers.  These people spend time getting to know local people and often hang out and try to give back a little to support the people who are giving them such generous hospitality as the Burmese people always do.  Tourist who take some time to help to teach a child English or to try some local food, go on a trek to visit a monestary or hill-tribe group in the mountains, learn about the Burmese as well as help to give some of their knowledge back to the Burmese.

Tourism in Myanmar is now practically non-existant and many local Burmese have lost their livelihood and are increasingly isolated from the world by missing this contact.  These local business people, both crafts-men as well as those who run small tour companies, guesthouses and restaurants have completely lost their business in a few short months.

For anyone visiting S. E. Asia, it is important to consider a trip to Burma.  The Burmese people have such a beautiful spirit of hospitality they have a lot to teach anyone who visits.  Burmese culture is so rich and unique and the food is like nothing you have tried anywhere else and they are so happy to welcome anyone who wants to get to know more about Myanmar.