Report warns industry to prepare for the unsavoury side of tourism

With tourism on the rise in Myanmar, the sector must better prepare for an influx of orphanage and child-sex tourism – problems that are already prevalent in the more travel-worn neighbouring countries, a report by three NGOs has warned.

The tourism impact assessment was conducted by the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business, the Danish Institute for Human Rights and the Institute for Human Rights and Business.

“Children are particularly vulnerable to impacts from tourism. Lessons from neighbouring countries, particularly Cambodia and Thailand, highlight the importance of awareness-raising for both tour operators and tourists of the potential for negative impacts on children,” said the report, which was published on the Ministry of Tourism website on 19 July.

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