Community Base Tourism enables travelers to experience the local culture while empowering the communities they visit to preserve their natural and cultural heritage. For travelers, it means a more authentic experience; and for locals, it leads to an upskilled workforce, and increased employment.
Bagan Kyun thiri
“There are those who travel but never really arrive. Those who visit a place but never know the people. Travel is so much more when you get closer to life and how it is lived.” With Myanmar Shalom Travels you will be able to experience an authentic experience of Myanmar.
Closed for over half a century, recently opened to visitors, and finally accessible by air and road; Kayah is packed with diversity and potential for inspiring, ‘off the beaten track’ experiences. Kayah’s tranquil capital, Loikaw, is usually the base for tourists. A short drive from Loikaw, local villages offer many opportunities to experience local life, including a range of newly developed, community-based, cultural tours.
ABOVE: guests-in-the-garden
“Local communities should always be at the center of the process. Without a proper understanding of their ways of life, needs, and habitat, business activities are likely to negatively impact the community, which is something we must avoid,” said Pascal Khoo Thwe, author of “From the Land of Green Ghosts” and a native Kayan, in regard to community-centered planning, cultural and natural environment conservation.
ABOVE: Peter-in-Pan-Pet-Kayah
Tourism in Kayah State was at an infant stage before the International Trade Centre’s ( ITC’s) first intervention with the Inclusive Tourism project in 2014. ITC contributed its knowledge and expertise to develop a diversified offer of tourist products and services aimed at both Myanmar and international tourists. Kayah State now has an organized set up to welcome tourists. The tourism products and services developed are being further improved in order to enhance the tourism experience with the view to attract new and longer-staying tourists.
Please check our Community-Based Tourism Experience in Loikaw.
ABOVE: Loikaw
The ITC Project is expanding inclusive tourism practices to a new tourism destination: Tanintharyi Region (Southern Myanmar). With its sandy beaches and turquoise waters, Tanintharyi will become a new tourism destination with its own tailored tourism products.
The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism knows the importance of having communities involved in its tourism efforts. As such it has been actively promoting the Community-Based Tourism (CBT) initiative.
More information about Community Based Tourism – please visit https://tourism.gov.mm/community-based-tourism/
