One country’s tourism is a controversial issue. For Myanmar or Burma, the roots of tourism lie in the concrete fact that the tourist industry has direct link to the ruling military junta. From the year 1988, the abundance of natural beauty of the country Burma has bit by bit opened up to foreigners. The trades and industries was the first that exploited enormous natural resources of Burma. But in the year 1996, a major change was there which inclined towards the expansion of the tourist industry in Burma. The campaign was named as “Visit Myanmar Year”.
Although it’s not strange for any country to encourage tourism, but in this case the main reasons behind Burma’s support of it are alarming and also sometimes horrifying. The junta invests the income from tourism in. Not less than half the national budget has spent on military by the junta. The size of this amount has nearly repeated in the past 20 years. Each year less than US$0.50 is spent on health per person. Burmese army has not less than 70000 child soldiers and this number is highest among all nations. In Burma Army tries to get full control over population in a brutal manner.
Feel of unease surrounds everywhere in Burma that whether or not the tourists should visit the country. Visiting Burma is supporting the army’s terrible action in other way. Since 1988 more than US$1.1 billion have been invested in tourist industry in Burma whereas the industry reportedly gives US$100 million per year.
Theoretically this should help in improving Burmese economy. But unfortunately either this money is treated into the military or else some generals and friends take this into their pockets.
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