Is it safe to visit Myanmar? Is it ethical to travel to Myanmar? These are the questions you might be asking if you are considering a trip to the least touristy destination in Southeast Asia. If you are following me on Instagram or if you’ve read any of my previous articles about Myanmar, you will already know that my answer to “Should you visit Myanmar?” is a resounding yes. Here’s why I refuse to boycott travelling to Myanmar.

What’s wrong with Myanmar?

If you don’t know much about Myanmar and are wondering why it might be questionable to travel there, let me fill you in quickly.

Since 2015 the country has been dealing with the Rohingya crisis – and not in a good way. Myanmar’s military has been systematically killing the stateless ethnic minority of Rohingya living in the Rakhine state, forcing them to flee to neighbouring Bangladesh. It’s a very complex issue and if you want to know more about the Rohingya conflict and why it’s happening, I recommend watching this video here.

One thing is for sure, though: thousands and thousands of innocent people are being killed in Myanmar and the unofficial leader of the country Aung San Suu Kyi pretty much refuses to stop or even acknowledge the genocide the whole world knows about.

Most recently, you might have also read about the case of two Burmese Reuters journalists imprisoned for telling the truth about the ethnic cleansing in Rakhine state (they have been freed since).

So… is Myanmar an evil place?

If everything you know about Myanmar comes from the news, it’s no surprise you don’t feel like visiting this country. The media sure does portray Myanmar as a dangerous place where human rights are abused.

Now, let me tell you what comes to my mind when I think of Myanmar: kind people, beautiful landscapes, thousands of pagodas, good food, faces with thanaka, men in traditional longyis, colourful paper umbrellas, guava and pink dragonfruit, boat rides across Inle Lake, mesmerising sunsets and much more…

So why isn’t Myanmar the most visited place on Earth yet??

Let’s boycott Myanmar… or?

Well, it’s quite simple, really. 

Myanmar has been welcoming tourists only since 2010. Before then it wasn’t really possible to visit this country. And while people around the world are slowly discovering the beauty of Myanmar and tourism is rising, you still won’t find as many visitors here as in other Southeast Asian countries.

Myanmar is clearly still ruled by the military and has a long way to go before becoming a democratic country. Many foreigners are discouraged by the news and let’s face it – from the outside, Myanmar just doesn’t look like a very enticing place to visit.

Some also believe that refusing to travel to a country which disrespects human rights will solve everything. I understand where this attitude comes from – but is boycotting really the way to go? Isn’t it more like closing our eyes and pretending we don’t see what’s happening?

Wouldn’t it be more beneficial to come nevertheless, talk to the locals, have a first-hand experience, exchange ideas and opinions and show them we care?

Let me quote The Independent’s Cathy Adams here: “By visiting, tourists can keep the spotlight on a repressive regime and can remind the rest of the world that an entire people isn’t responsible for its government. Oppressive regimes can only thrive when nobody is around to argue against them.”

Let’s also think about who we’re really hurting by boycotting tourism in Myanmar. I’m not going to lie to you, of course the majority of money from visas and entry fees goes to the government. But it’s the local businesses dependent on tourism that will really suffer from your boycott. The lovely local guides willing to show you all the good parts of their country, the souvenir shops with beautiful handmade products or the family-run restaurants eager to give you the best food experience possible. Those are the people you should care about.

In my opinion, travelling to a particular country doesn’t automatically mean you agree with its government’s practices or ideology. No one ever questions visiting countries like China, Laos or Vietnam. I don’t support communism, yet I have been to all three destinations. And it’s okay.

There is simply much more to a country than its government. A government doesn’t have to be a reflection of its nation – in fact, I feel that it very rarely is. Myanmar is made up of millions of warm-hearted people who cannot affect what their government does and believe me, they don’t like the genocidal events in their land any more than you do. And to be fair, in many cases they are not even really aware of what’s happening in remote Rakhine.

Is it safe to travel to Myanmar?

There are two potential concerns for people considering a trip to Myanmar: either they don’t want to support the oppressive regime or they believe it’s an unsafe place to visit. I can honestly say neither is a good enough reason not to visit Myanmar.

There really isn’t any serious danger waiting for tourists coming to Myanmar and eager to see all the famous places and sights. In fact, I even felt safer here than in other Asian countries I’ve visited. Crime rate in Myanmar is very low and sexual harassment isn’t really something that happens in this Buddhist country. And for the record, Myanmar is currently country 125 out of 163 on the Global Peace Index – that’s better than the US.

While tourists are welcomed and treated well in Myanmar (the Burmese hospitality will amaze you), there are still many places that are off limits to foreigners, including the Rakhine state. You don’t have to worry if you keep to the usual tourist route (Mandalay, Bagan, Inle, Yangon, etc.), but when travelling off the beaten path always check where you are allowed to go. This is for your safety and you probably don’t want to mess with the Myanmar military.

It goes without saying that you should use common sense and not do anything stupid to put yourself in danger – just like in any other country, including your own. If you want to feel prepared and know what to expect from a trip to Myanmar, read my article HERE.

Is it safe to travel to Myanmar as a solo female traveller? Yes, it’s perfectly safe. I came to Myanmar as a solo female traveller myself and never felt in any danger (well, I had an uneasy feeling in a late night taxi once as I have written in this post, but ironically I was with a friend at the time – and don’t worry, nothing happened to us). You will get a lot of stares as a solo white female but to be fair, you will get stared at anyway. People in Myanmar are very curious about foreigners since they don’t see many.

Besides, if you travel to Myanmar solo, you will likely meet a lot of other travellers. I made some really good friends in Myanmar and I think it’s down to the fact that there is a particular type of travellers visiting Myanmar. They don’t come here for parties or beaches, they really want to experience this unique culture. If that sounds like you, then Myanmar is the right place for you and I’m sure you will have the best time here.

To be honest, I had my own doubts for a moment when I was thinking of visiting Myanmar. That’s why I pretty much left it for last when I travelled around Southeast Asia. Travelling to Myanmar isn’t so common yet, compared to the other countries – what if it’s also a lot more difficult?

What is it really like to travel in Myanmar?

It may surprise you, but travelling in Myanmar is quite easy. As tourism is growing, things are easier and easier for visitors. You only need a $50 e-visa to enter the country, there are plenty of hotels and hostels everywhere and you can use buses to get to any destination. (And “VIP buses” are super modern and cheap here!)

Myanmar may still be behind its neighbours in many aspects but the country isn’t so undeveloped that it would make your life difficult. You can find everything you need in Myanmar: shops, restaurants, ATMs, currency exchange and so on. I didn’t experience a lot of power cuts and the Internet works here, too. It may be slower but it’s not censored anymore.

Many people speak English (especially in areas frequented by tourists) and even if they don’t, they will always try to find someone who does. The locals are extremely helpful and they might be even kinder to foreigners than they are to each other.

I’m really glad I didn’t let the media and prejudice stop me from going to Myanmar! I would miss out on a truly wonderful place with the nicest locals. In fact, I made many of my best travel memories in Myanmar. I absolutely loved this country and would love to go back and explore more in the future.

It’s entirely up to you if you decide for or against visiting Myanmar. The Internet is full of articles discussing both sides of the argument to help you make an informed decision. I just wanted to share my take on this topic and show you what it’s actually like to travel to a country that isn’t generally shown in the best light by the media. And well, if you want to know my opinion: it would just be silly not to visit a country as amazing as this one.

What are your thoughts? Have you been to Myanmar? If not, would you visit despite the ethical concerns?

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