Tourism in Myanmar

The world is not yet flocking to Myanmar and the tourism industry is clearly in its infancy. It is clear for all to see that there are few if any services available yet in many places. 

The contrast with Thailand, north, south, east and west, is complete. There, every imagined need can be satisfied. Tourists are everywhere, and in many places are the only economy. In Myanmar, one rarely sees congregations of foreigners. Temples, if crowded,  are crowded with local people. Restaurants are patronized by local people.

When Cambodia opened up for tourism, in the 1990s,  after its destructive civil war, a brutal  genocide and invasion, there was an enormous explosion of tourist infrastructure. One does not see this yet in Myanmar, despite the current ease of entering the country. 

While at times this lack of infrastructure leads to discomfort, for example when one needs to go to the bathroom, overall  it is so refreshing. The country appears lost in time. Locked into a time warp by a military regime in 1962, time has stood still. The infrastructure has simply not been built. Roads don't exist or are in ill repair. Train service is from another era. The river is the easiest way to travel. Poverty is visible everywhere.

What will the future bring?  Is it inevitable that industries will quickly emerge to satisfy every whim of the tourist?  Will the open friendliness of the people become open caginess? Will every interaction be with a tout? Who knows. For now it is an extraordinary experience to be in, and to move around in, this amazing society.