1

I think if homeless travellers band together and set up in one of the parks then the police wont be able to do anything about it. " Considering that monks, citizens and now Rohingyas have not escaped unscathed I would like to nominate you for "optimist" of the year. Besides who travels to sleep in a park? Forget it.

2

Tourists are the bread and butter for the Burmese government.They need the tourists and they need international support. I dont believe they would bite the hand that feeds them.How would they pay for their expensive lifestyles?

The Burmese folk (monks, citiizens etc, etc) are just the badly treated pawns.

The Government would not want any bad publicity especially as every tourist has a camera and is basically a roaming, amateur media person.

It is plan B if there is no accomdation which is highly likely to occur many times over the November/December period.

3

I was at embassy in Bangkok around 10th Oct and it wasn't nearly as busy as i was led to believe. Got there at 7am & not another soul turned up till after 8.15! Been in Burma till about 2 wks ago & didn't find it crowded at all. Either people are scaremongering or a lot changes between late October & early Nov!!

4

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You have a naive understanding of Myanmar and Myanmar economics.
While the government isn't going to bite you (too hard), what wealth that's in the country has little to do with tourism.

5

Tourism brings more than 100 million € annualy and although that is significant ammount of money, it is just a pocket money compared with money generals earn in trading with gems,gas,wood etc..

6

You are naive dear traveler; the police will not bend to your desires. Myanmar is not your country, they will simply put you in jail and then throw you out of THEIR country. Have you seen how they treat their own citizens?

7

Yep, naive indeed. If you think that you and a group of itinerant backpackers who illegally squat of public land will be considered tourists you are dead wrong. You will be described by local officials as transient bums. I suspect almost every country in the world, even ones that are stable and not undergoing political change would not hesitate to take whatever measures they deemed necessary. Push the envelope all you want but be prepared to call home for money.

8

I am not talking about itinerant backpackers who ever they may be, but ordinary travelers who just want the common universal right of having a safe comfortable place to sleep at night.

Most posters seem unaware of the power of the media.

Another long line queing up today at the Myanmar embassy.
Most I talked to on the line were not able to find adequate accomodation in Yangon.
1 guy said that Mandalay was completely book out for his period of intended travel.

For those coming to Myanmar in November it is going to be a squeeze.
Better practice your survivial skills and hard sleeping techniques.

9

I am not talking about itinerant backpackers who ever they may be, but ordinary travelers who just want the common universal right of having a safe comfortable place to sleep at night"

Yes, another traveler taking that Western sense of "entitlement" with them to a third world country where the locals frequently do not have access to those things tourists take for granted. "The power of the press" indeed. OK, be a martyr, but the government will not lose any sleep over your righteous indignation of not having adequate amounts yourself. I look forward to reading the article and chuckling prodigiously.

Edited by: Committee to abolish tourons

10

"Tourists are the bread and butter for the Burmese government.They need the tourists and they need international support. I dont believe they would bite the hand that feeds them.How would they pay for their expensive lifestyles?"

Tourism is only recently starting to be a meaningful source of income in the country, and the reality is they do not have enough beds / rooms to cater for the recent influx of visitors.

Agree with every person that has said you are being rather naive in your views re: what the police will won't do. I love the country, have spent more than just a 2 week dash around the main sights, and would recommend to anyone to go to this beautiful and fascinating country. BUT, having personally been hauled off a night bus on a "routine stop and check", questioned to the point of bordering on interrogation, and a digital camera being produced to take a picture of both myself and the details page of my passport, I can say don't bother messing with the police and trying to challenge their systems. Oh, and the reason I inspired so much curiosity on the bus .... nope, it wasn't because I was trying to challenge any system, was being drunk and outspoken, or any other possible reason that people may assume .... I was the only non-Burmese on the bus and ..... they saw me chatting with the person in the next seat. If memory serves me right we were talking about music.

I think most posters are aware of the power of the media - in places where the media does indeed have any power.