Being a responsible tourist is about more than making sure your trash goes into the bin.  It’s about being mindful of each and every action, and considering the overall effect one’s visit is having on the country and its people.  “Will this activity benefit people, or bring them harm?”  This question should be ever-present on the minds of visitors to Burma.

It is impossible to visit Burma without some money going to the government.  Visa fees and taxes on flight tickets ensure that the junta has gotten its hands on a few tourist dollars before the visitor even enters the country.  Entrance fees, public transport and taxes paid on hotels and other services will also generate a certain amount of cash for the government. 

This doesn’t mean that the overall impact of the trip has to be negative, only that the visitor should be aware of these and other potentially negative impacts and try to minimize them and engage in activities that will offset them by bringing benefits to the locals they encounter on their visit.  The visitor should think of these impacts as creating a “social deficit”, a debt to the people of Burma that should be repaid.  This section can advise users on how to avoid social deficit, and on ways to offset it and plan a trip that will help improve the overall welfare of the people of Burma.

How to Be a Responsible Tourist

Being a truly responsible tourist means exercising great discretion at all times.  The visitor must be vigilant to avoid creating negative impacts whenever possible and engage in activities that will have a positive impact.  The following is a list of things all visitors to Burma should do to ensure they benefit the people of Burma and don’t leave with a “social deficit”.

Do your homework

Try to learn as much as you can about Burma before you leave home.  There are many great books available on Burma’s rich history and culture and we’ve listed a few of our favourites here.  Be sure to read up on what is and is not appropriate behaviour in public.  If you respect the local customs, and the dignity and rights of the local people, in turn, you'll be better respected as a visitor.

It’s vitally important to be up-to-date on the current events there and while Burma news doesn’t always make the headlines in the mainstream press, we’ve listed an outlet that offers Burma-related stories here.   It’s also a good idea to try and learn a few words of Burmese before you go. The effort will certainly be appreciated and it may make getting around a bit easier.  Keep in mind, however, that the Burmese are not one homogenous group.  There are differences in customs, dialects, language and etiquette in differing regions and states.

Think about where your money goes

This is important in any country.  However, it is vitally important in Burma.  Try to avoid spending your money at government-run tourism businesses.  This includes government-run hotels, restaurants, transport companies, tour companies and activities.  Many of the tourist sites - like Shwedagon Pagoda and Pagan - do attract tourism fees that go to the junta.  You can find out which companies are government-owned by researching on the internet and from certain guidebooks. 

Always patronize locally-owned hotels, restaurants and shops, and hire local guides, taxis and rickshaw drivers to take you around town.  Try and spread your money around; don’t eat at the same restaurant every meal.  Buy locally produced goods instead of imported ones.  Bargaining is appropriate when shopping, but don’t overdo it and always pay a fair price.   Also, if you feel a close affinity with the people and want to gift money, it is best to support a community project or local NGO rather than an individual person or family.

Don't let him sleep, provide work for rickshaw drivers and send a few kyats his way.

Offset your “social deficit”

Remember that before you’ve set foot in Burma, your visa fees and airline taxes have already generated some revenue for the regime.  All entrance fees at popular tourist sites will do the same.  A responsible tourist should recognize this and always be thinking of ways to bring positive impacts to the communities they visit.  Giving a donation to a local or international NGO will help further the efforts of people working to better the lives of the people of Burma.  Volunteering time with such a group would be better yet, it would allow you to interact directly with people and the struggles they face.  Giving money to beggars, especially children, isn’t a great idea.  Better to buy them a meal or donate to a charity group involved with the homeless.

There are infinite ways to offset your “social deficit”.  Be creative!

Stray from the well-worn tourist trail

While many areas of the country are off-limits to foreigners, it’s relatively easy to visit remote parts of the country that see few visitors.  Tourist dollars will be quite helpful in these places and you are likely to have a much more rewarding, culturally-rich experience than you would following the crowds.

Consider your ecological footprint

Be mindful of resource usage.  Switch off lights and turn off appliances.  Use water sparingly, tourists tend to use far more than local people.  Bring water purification tablets and refill water bottles instead of buying new ones.  Take used batteries home with you.  Make sure your litter goes in the bin.  Refuse plastic bags at shops if you don’t need them, and reuse the ones you already have.  Avoid buying products made from endangered plants, wild animals, shells or hard woods, including teak wood.  Consider offsetting carbon emissions for your flight.

Use photography wisely

Photography can be a great way to document your trip, but be sure to remember a few guidelines.  Always ask permission before photographing people or religious sites; some may not mind having their pictures taken, others may find it offensive.  It’s not a good idea to pay people money to take their photograph, especially children.  If you want to show gratitude, offer to send them a print and be sure to follow through.  In fact most towns have at least one shop where you can get photos printed the same day; sharing photos is a great way to have a positive impact on the people you visit.

Talk to the locals

This may sound obvious but it’s one of the best ways for both tourist and local to benefit.  Burma’s long isolation has left many starved for exposure to the outside world and interactions with tourists are a great way for them to experience other cultures.  It also gives them an opportunity to practice their English language skills and who knows, you may even learn a few words of Burmese!  Visitors should be extremely careful however not to discuss subjects (i.e. politics) that may get their new friends in trouble with the authorities, or degrade their culture.  Many Burmese have the impression that because their country is poor, everything foreign is better.  They are often shocked to learn that, for example, the mangos available in their country are far tastier than those in say, Scotland.  Be sure to emphasize to your new friends the things you love about their country, it will be sure to brighten their day.