Less than a decade ago, most travelers avoided Myanmar (also known as Burma, although its official name is the Republic of the Union of Myanmar). Gradually, the country is opening up to the increasingly thriving global tourism industry. And while there are indeed areas to avoid, tourists visiting Myanmar can rest assured: most conflicts are purely internal and rarely involve any foreigners.
Yes, visit Myanmar with OneMoreDestination
Yes, Myanmar is safe to visit. In fact, tourism in Myanmar is booming: in 2017, Myanmar received 3.44 million visitors, and the number of visitors has been steadily increasing for over 10 years.
If we put the numbers in perspective, the growth of tourism in Myanmar is absolutely stratospheric: in 1995, Myanmar had only 21,000 annual visitors. The nearly 3.5 million tourists in 2017 represent a 16,200% increase. Quite remarkable.
Myanmar: A Paradise Worth Discovering
Myanmar is undergoing a significant economic and political transformation, which is excellent news for tourists: all of the country’s cultural wonders, such as the ancient temples of Bagan, the beautiful colonial streets of Yangon, and the former royal capital of Mandalay, are available for visitors to enjoy.
As a society that has only recently opened up to tourism, most Burmese people are very friendly and—surprisingly—are not tired of tourists.
Tourist areas have all the services and police presence one would find in any Western country. Thefts, crimes, and typical problems that can affect a traveler—or directly threaten them—are practically nonexistent.
The only problem you might occasionally encounter is the overcharge or surcharge that locals may try to impose for some of their services, although this is common in any tourist destination worldwide. You don’t even need to leave Europe to find vendors with a bit of ‘trickery’.
A Country in Full Transformation
Since its independence from the United Kingdom in 1948, Myanmar has always been controlled by a military dictatorship, specifically from 1962 to 2011. However, after the country began a transition towards a more democratic government in 2010—especially when the military junta was pressured by the massive demonstrations of 2007—the destination quickly became a mandatory favorite for intrepid travelers, as well as specialized travel media.
Political Changes in Myanmar
The military regime that controlled the country for over 60 years has attempted to pressure the various political parties that have participated in elections, with particular emphasis on the National League for Democracy. These pressures have not prevented the country from gradually opening up to tourism and foreign investment. In November 2015, Myanmar was named one of the most popular emerging destinations, behind Cuba, Iceland, and Croatia. Currently (December 2019), and since 2018, the government of Myanmar is led by former political prisoner Win Myint as president. Burmese politician and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is also part of the government.
Safety when traveling in Myanmar
Traveling through almost any area of Myanmar is safe. The most popular tourist areas of the state, such as Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, and Inle Lake, can be visited without any problems. The general rating for the country is “high degree of caution,” although it is worth noting that this is the same advice many governments give for other neighboring and much more visited countries like Thailand and Bali.
Most Common Types of Conflicts in Myanmar
As a relatively young country, Myanmar is facing very significant social, political, and economic changes. Burma carries a history of colonization, religious conflicts, and internal wars that have greatly shaped the country’s trajectory. Although numerous ceasefire agreements have been signed since 2015, tensions are still very much present.
The most common conflicts in Burma are:
Internal religious conflicts: especially between Buddhists, Christians (the Kachin), and Muslims in the north (the Rohingya, who are suffering severe repression by the Burmese army)
Ethnic conflicts: Burma’s great ethnic diversity makes coexistence very difficult in some areas of the country that are separated by borders, dividing populations that have historically always lived together
These conflicts are usually located in border areas with Bangladesh and in some specific areas with the neighboring state of China. The northern parts of Shan State, Kachin State, southern Chin State, and Rakhine State (home to the Rohingya Muslims) are quite conflict-ridden and sometimes completely out of control.
The presence of the army is quite common in these areas, and they cannot be accessed without special government permission. Most foreigners who travel (the few who do) to these border areas do so as journalists or for humanitarian missions.
Ethnic Conflicts: A History of Over 70 Years
Myanmar is a very diverse country both culturally and religiously: although the Bamar ethnic group is the most common in Burma, there are also other very present ethnic groups such as the Arakanese, Chinese, Indian, Jingpo, Mon, Shan… Clashes between different cultural groups have been occurring for over 70 years (since the British independence process), and every so often there are confrontations or skirmishes between rebel groups and the Burmese army. These conflicts are located in border areas of the country, completely isolated from tourist zones, with the Rohingya conflict being the most famous of them all.
Do you want to discover Myanmar with One More Destination? Check out the incredible itineraries we have for Myanmar.
