Tourism ministry slow to embrace homestays

Homestays are an increasingly popular way for travellers to immerse themselves in a foreign culture, and many countries, including in Southeast Asia, encourage such travel as a means of developing local economies.

Myanmar, however, is far behind the curve in this regard, as the government does not officially allow foreigners to spend the night in the homes of villagers.

One of the main benefits of homestays is that they allow people from different cultures to meet and learn from one another, but U Myint Tun Oo, the deputy director of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, sees this as a potentially negative aspect of the concept.

“The government doesn’t allow homestay tourism in Myanmar because of the different cultures, languages and living standards between villagers and tourists,” he told The Myanmar Times.

“We need to educate villagers who lack knowledge of homestay tourism. If we allow it now, there will be unnecessary problems and misunderstandings between tourists and villagers.”

U Myint Tun Oo said the ministry is currently writing guidelines and holding workshops for homestays, but he was unable to say when they would be officially allowed.

While not enthralled by the concept of cultural exchange, U Myint Tun Oo was effusive about the economic benefits.

“If homestays become popular in Myanmar, the villages where tourists go will improve and get many benefits. Tourists will buy the products of the village, so the more tourists that come, the more it will benefit the villagers,” he said.

According to U Thet Lwin Toe, vice chair of the Union of Myanmar Travel Association (UMTA), there is more to homestays than just economic benefits.

He said they would facilitate the sharing of “knowledge and experience between tourists and villagers”, which would help Myanmar become better-known to the world.

He also said there would be educational benefits.

“The main target of homestay tourism is the local community, which means local or international students could stay with a family while studying and writing their thesis about life in ordinary villages,” he said.

U Thet Lwin Toe added that he thought homestays would be more appropriate for package tours than for independent travellers.

“Our country should open for homestay tourism, but first we need to train people so the tours are operated systematically,” he said.

source: The Myanmar Times

http://www.mmtimes.com/index.php/lifestyle/travel/9596-tourism-ministry-slow-to-embrace-homestays.html