I am not going to Burma

Tourism

Should you stay or should you go?

There are few areas in the world where human rights are fully respected.

There are also few occasions when the nature of the suppression of human rights is such that a tourism boycott is justified. However, Burma is a rare example where this is appropriate.

Some of the reasons are outlined here.

Relevant Links:

How Tourism benefits Burma’s Dictators
(PDF version)

Acrobat can be downloaded here

“I’m not going to Burma” Celebrities speak out against tourism to Burma.

Sir Ian McKellen	Zoe Wanamaker

Message from Former Prime Minister Tony Blair
Feb 2005

The UK has been at the forefront of efforts over many years to draw
attention to the extent of abuse in Burma, and to bring pressure to
bear on the military regime to reform. We are actively working with
our European and international partners, as well as through the United
Nations and the International Labour Organisation, to press the regime
to end the appalling human rights violations and to engage in a genuine
process of national reconciliation. This must involve all relevant
parties and groups in Burma.

Human rights violations in Burma have been highlighted in successive
UN Resolutions which have drawn attention to torture, extra-judicial
killings and rape by members of the armed forces, forced labour including
the use of child soldiers and forced relocation of villagers. Together
with our partners in Europe, the British government imposes a series
of measures against those responsible for these crimes. For as long
as they continue, I would urge anyone who may be thinking of visiting
Burma on holiday to consider carefully whether by their actions they
are helping to support the regime and prolong such dreadful abuses.