In light of the recent unrest, there has been much discussion around boycotting travel to Myanmar. However, we believe there is a great deal of value in continuing to run our small-group trips in Myanmar.
At the heart of the argument to boycott lies good intentions: to do the right thing. In practice, however, travel boycotts can have a negative impact on the people they aim to help, as the drop in tourism directly affects local families who rely on travellers purchasing their wares. The vulnerable can become isolated, and binary world views are reinforced.
We at Peregrine believe travel can be a force for good. Connection between people at a grassroots level is a powerful source of change. This is especially true in countries with censorship laws that restrict diversity in the media – something that can only be remedied by outside influences.
We respect that the decision of whether to travel to another country is an individual choice. But we believe in tourism as an agent of change for the better, and this is why we continue to travel to Myanmar.