Explain how political factors have influenced the growth of tourism in Myanmar.

Tourists contemplating a visit to any country with a history of human rights abuses are confronted with a similar ethical dilemma: keep yourself and your tourist dollars away, or go and bear witness, facilitate the exchange of ideas and support local businesses. Visitors to Myanmar are faced with such a dilemma and some profound political and ideological decision-making. Tourism marketing strategies in Myanmar have focused on a picturesque and idyllic landscape, imbued with spirituality as a consequence of its Buddhist traditions, and inhabited by peaceful people whose traditional culture has been preserved. However, this image of a country at peace denies the harsh realities that underlie such representations, and Myanmar has been referred to as the ‘land of fear’. Under allegations of human rights abuse, the generals running the country spend about 40 per cent of the county’s budget on the military, while most of the people live in poverty and disease.
The Burmese health system is ranked 190th out of 190 countries by the World Health Organization. Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the elected Democratic Party and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, remains under house arrest, whilst over 1,800 political prisoners are held in jail.