Intrepid Travel Do Burma Hokey Cokey

The Burma Campaign UK today welcomed news that Intrepid Travel is suspending trips to Burma. Intrepid Travel, an Australian travel company with offices in the UK, USA and Canada, had been boycotting Burma since 1999 but in March announced it was returning to Burma, citing improvements in human rights in the country.

Intrepid Travel’s decision to return to Burma was condemned by the Burma Campaign UK and Burma campaign groups across the world. The decision was also criticised by the Federation of Trade Unions (Burma) and Vera Baird MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Burma. Hundreds of campaigners emailed Intrepid calling on them to cancel their trips.

The Burma Campaign UK warned that the human rights situation in Burma was deteriorating, not improving, and that Intrepid Travel would now be helping to fund the dictatorship.

“The decision to suspend trips is welcome but they should never have gone back in the first place,” says Yvette Mahon, Director of the Burma Campaign UK. “This is a humiliating climbdown for Intrepid. They had staunchly defended their decision to return to Burma, but at least they have done the right thing in the end.”

Intrepid Travel join a growing exodus of travel companies pulling out of Burma. So far this year Kuoni, Abercrombie & Kent, Travelsphere, Scott Dunn Travel, and Silks Steps have all announced that they are ending tours to Burma. This week Carnival/P&O announced it is also reconsidering cruises to Burma.

Tourism is a vital 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.

For more information contact Yvette Mahon, Director of Burma Campaign UK, or Mark Farmaner, Media Officer, on 020 728 7377

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