1. Christoph Amthor, Burma Center Prague Workshop: Best Practices in Promoting Responsible Travel Awareness Raising from an Advocacy NGO’s Perspective

2. Specific Role of a Country– Focused NGO  promotes population’s rights, not the standpoint of travellers or business  provides expertise  intermediates contacts to local population  broadens the view on invisible aspects (remote areas, refugees etc.)  keeps overview on wider context and development

3. Our Position Regarding Travelling to Burma  no clear verdict about traveling or not  discouraging package tours, encouraging individual travels  not happy with fact that part of money always goes to the regime and cronies  little space for operation inside the country with a critical standpoint  tried to provide basic information, offer ways of how to help in a broader approach  no practical experience in this field

4. Risks in Case of Involvement  risk of being misused by business and regime for “greenwashing”  risk of becoming financially dependent on particular policy (and failing to follow actual mission)  security risk for local partners  risk of obstructing other activities

5. Means of Promotion  information campaigns targeted at customers (directly or via media/ schools)  information campaigns targeted at tour operators  responsible travel guides (print, web)  capacity building for local population  certification system

6. Some Brainstorming  possibilities of involving Burmese in planning (not to “impose” our help on them)  responsible travelling only to Burma, or possibly to places where Burmese refugees live?  We want to be welcomed in Burma, so should this affect our attitude towards Burmese refugees coming to us?

7. Christoph Amthor, Burma Center Prague Workshop: Best Practices in Promoting Responsible Travel www.burma-center.org amthor@burma-center.org