Myanmar (formerly Burma) has announced it will reopen to tourism in 2022, but difficulties facing the nation have complicated this welcome back.
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Myanmar Tourism to Reopen
Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is readying a welcome back to tourists. In 2012, the country opened to the outside for the first time in more than 25 years. As I have mentioned before, my wife and I visited Yangon (formerly Rangoon) shortly after it reopened to the world. We were a few days behind Anthony Bourdain who was filming his first episode of his new series, Parts Unknown. There were no ATMs at the time, limited internet, virtually no cell phone service, and almost no outsiders.
https://youtu.be/RrSULRKOUdU
Coca-Cola had arrived just two days before we did, to give context to how closed the country had been.
In fact, the now infamous, Myanmar currency mistake fares that allowed us to fly from RGN to LAX in business class for $400 was the very first post I wrote about here, and launched this blog nearly a decade ago.
In the years since we visited, Myanmar has grown. They added chain hotels, eased the visa process, and made access to money easier. Prior to re-opening, just 800,000 visitors (regional with diplomatic ties to Myanmar) had visited with slight growth over the prior half decade. By 2016, that number had grown nearly 250% to more than 1.9MM, settling close to 1.5MM through 2019.
The country had closed its borders again during the pandemic in early 2020.
Myanmar’s COVID Entry Requirements
Current COVID restrictions require a negative test within 72 hours of arrival with additional testing on days three and seven following arrival. Dependant on the results of those tests, a quarantine extending up to 14 days may be required. Going forward, vaccination will be required for entry.
“We are planning to reopen tourism for vaccinated tourists if plans are well-prepared for safe and convenient travel,’ Zeyar Htun, deputy director of the Public Relations and Information Department at the military-run Ministry of Hotels & Tourism, confirmed to CNN Travel.”
COVID closures were particularly concerning less for the bourgeoning tourist destinations like Inle Lake, and more for the religious pilgrimages to the many temples across the country.
Military Junta Rolls Out Red Carpet
Tragically, in February of 2021, a coup d’etat took place in the country placing administrative authority under a military junta. Politcal turmoil is nothing new to Southeast Asia over the last few decades, I have twice been in Thailand under military rule. But trouble in some regions, especially border regions and areas like Kayin state have remained subject to challenging conditions.
However, the coup itself is concerning. For tourists that were worried about COVID, the evacuation of embassy staff, the presence of military tribunals and the imperiled safety of free speech advocates are far more serious.
Nonetheless, the Junta would like to welcome back vaccinated tourists in an effort to normalize the country and restart the industry that brought new money into the territory.
Conclusion
My wife and I loved Myanmar, Matthew did too. It was exciting to see a piece of Asia before Starbucks and McDonald’s had taken over and this has somewhat remained the case. I also found the advancements that Aung San Suu Kyi had made to open her country up, help install democracy, and introduce that wonderful place to outsiders to be inspiring. That said, it’s not a good time to visit even if you are fully-vaccinated, test COVID negative and feel comfortable traveling without the safety of diplomatic relations with the US (and other western nations.) This reopening is a welcome sign to religious pilgrims but most will find it ill-timed.
What do you think? Have you been to Myanmar? Would you go in the current climate? If not, do you plan to go when circumstances change?
I loved going to Myanmar but I wouldn’t go there again due to the total genocide the military government instituted on the Rohingya minority after I left in 2017. This made world headlines and it was pretty devastating and horrific to see. It was worse because Su Kyi, who you laud above, tacitly supported it. It’s kind of shocking and irresponsible for you to consider this horrendous junta that had very visible blood on its hands very recently.
Myanmar was amazing in the 90s when I first visited. Staying at guest houses and cheap hotels, avoiding contributing to the junta. Again in2006. Still good, more tourists and people were getting ahead finally. Won’t go again until democracy increases
One of J Peterman’s favorite places to get Yam-Yam.
As for the complaint about promoting the places, how is it different from many of the SE Asia countries where sex tourism is big business that is largely ignored by the government? Americans visit and do business with these countries ignoring what is happening all around them.
Prostitution is legal in many countries in Europe. I don’t understand the problem if I also avail myself of the opportunity while in Thailand or whereever.
Burma opened forst time in 2012?? Really? Maybe check the facts. How come i went there in October 2008??
I visited Myanmar in 2006 for the first of many trips to that friendly country, Not many tourists then but it was open to those who applied for visa at the Myanmar embassy in Bangkok. Coca cola imported from Thailand and Singapore, was common in the markets.
I won’t go back to Myanmar until the genocidal Military junta is no longer in control!
We Absolutely loved our visit to Myanmar Jan 2020, The food, the people all were incredible!!! I loved the Myanmar beer! It was amazing seeing young people starting businesses and tours. Bagan is just incredible! I would love to return, but Never under the military rule!!! I support the people! Save Myanmar!!! Don’t go until the military is no longer in control!!
Young people starting businesses. That’s rich, rich I say. Kids selling themselves to American businessmen flying in on UA. Wow what a sick individual you must be supporting the sex trade of children to businessmen from NYC.
I’ve been there 3 times. My wife and I found a guide on our first trip in 2016. We became very close friends, loaned him money to expand his tour business (he paid us back) and video chat with him once or twice a month. We’ve visited his family in their village and made many new friends and acquaintances. When this story came out, I called Thu Rain to get his perspective. His take? Not going to happen, just not safe. Even if the military tries to pretend it’s safe. We very much want to go back, one of our favorite places in the world. But it won’t be anytime soon.
With children? Which we all know happens in SE Asia.
Let me guess, you card them.
F’n pervert.
I see a theme in all your posts here; apparently your Trumpy racism has extended into SE Asians too.
Not surprising, you probably never left your lily-white s***hole of Hicksville, where cousins marry each other. That’s my kind of perversion.
Who said Myanmar opened in 2012!??! Been kiving there since 1996 and tourists ca.e years before already. Don’t make it sound like you doscovered the country. When you ca.e in 2012 thousands have visited already for years.
@Thomas – I said Bourdain was there before me… what more do you want?
So what was the point of your article, just to advertise how many times you have been to Myanmar?
Let’s get it straight, Myanmar is not top of anyone’s list of places to go just now. Junta will harrass tourists as they do the Myanmar people.
Yesterday the junta announced that masks are not to be worn because it makes identification difficult and if they see two males on a scooter, they will be shot, no questions.
Where are you going to stay; some junta owned hotel so they can live the life while oppressing the other 54 million?
So book me a flight to Mandalay please.
@Steve Earnshaw – “That said, it’s not a good time to visit even if you are fully vaccinated, test COVID negative and feel comfortable traveling without the safety of diplomatic relations with the US (and other western nations.) This reopening is a welcome sign to religious pilgrims but most will find it ill-timed.”
I’m really not sure how to make it clearer that now is not a good time regardless of precautions and I specifically outline the issue with the pro-democracy movement and the border regions. We can’t ignore the benefits of reopening for regionally located Buddhists who want to visit for religious purposes, nor can we turn a blind eye to the safety challenges and military rule.
It’s a stretch to say that in 2012, “there were no ATMs at the time, limited internet, virtually no cell phone service, and almost no outsiders.” As an American backpacker, I visited in 2000. Got a tourist visa in Bangkok then flew to Yangon on Myanmar Air. No ATMs. No internet. But there were a few dozen travelers there then. It was a magical experience, albeit incredibly rough traveling. During my visit to Bagan I was literally the ONLY traveler. Was all surreal and awesome. And the Burmese were lovely (the food not so much). I’m fortunate to have gone then.