With Burma’s first “free and fair” elections for more than 20 years having passed off peacefully this week, the country can expect a huge influx in tourists. But while the changes have been welcomed, there are doubts as to whether the country’s infrastructure can cope with such the expected surge in tourist arrivals.
Robin Ball, director of Bamboo Travel, which organises tailor-made trips to Burma said the country’s transition to tourist development would not be easy.
“It’s great news that tourism is on the increase to Burma now that they are on the road to democracy and this will be of a massive financial benefit to many ordinary people. But we are noticing hundreds of new group tour departures available from UK companies over the next 12 months, which the Burmese will struggle to cope with,” Ball said.
One of the company’s ground handling agents in Burma agreed. “It will take three to five years until new hotels are up and running and the economy is at a normal growth of speed. We need UK operators to push business during the low season from May to September. This will help with capacity issues and give clients travelling in the ‘green season’ (April-October) an opportunity to see Myanmar at a less busy time as well as taking advantage of lower prices and easier access to the most popular sites and hotels,” it said.
Ball said Bamboo Travel was responding to this request by offering year-round itineraries. “We are… trying to encourage visits throughout the year, rather than just during the peak season.
“We have created [tours]… specifically designed for Burma’s green season, when the crowds thin dramatically and the atmosphere returns to how it was before the recent tourist boom. You can expect the occasional shower in Burma during this time, but they will not impact on the cultural sightseeing, and the conditions in north and central Vietnam tend to be fine in these months,” he added.
The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has forecast that Burma will be one of the world’s fastest-growing inbound tourism markets in 2012, with arrivals expected to increase 25%. This follows a similar rise last year when the number of international tourists passing through Burma’s main gateway, Rangoon International Airport, jumped 22% to 360,000.
