Best Countries

Burma

At a glance

Capital: Rangoon (See more on ITYPEMBA.COM)

Official language: Burmese

Currency: Kyat

Continent: South East Asia

Land in turmoil

Myanmar is culturally and scenically exceptional. However, this beautiful country is ruled by a military dictatorship.

Info Myanmar

Former Burma is in the South Asia region. According to Countryaah, it borders Bangladesh, India, China, Laos, and Thailand. The country’s military junta has driven Myanmar into isolation. All connections to the outside world are interrupted and so no images of the current state of the country get out. Many travelers leave the country out on their South Asia tour to strengthen the blockade, but the people of the country are happy about every visitor, no matter how awkward they may appear in this unique culture.

Travel to Burma

No country has as many stypas as Burma! These small Buddhist pagodas, which resemble teapot lids, are scattered all over the country – there should be around 4,000. It is also Buddhism that has shaped the country culturally to the present day. There are enough travel destinations in the country. So a Myanmar trip is not a question of interest, because you will always find something interesting there. Which is why the entry here is so short, the ethical question that you have to answer yourself beforehand is whether you decide to take this trip.

Reasons to travel to Burma

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi once said that tourists should come to Burma when the country is doing better. The travel boycott was imposed in the mid-1990s. At that time the generals of Burma hoped with 500,000 tourists, 200,000 would come. The argument that income from tourism goes straight into the generals’ wallets is one thing, the other is that over 80% of the money goes to the private sector. A travel boycott cuts the dictatorshipHowever, travelers are also the only link with foreign countries. Regarding the flow of money, it should be said that most of the money flows from China to Myanmar and tourism only makes up a small part of the state budget of $ 13 billion. A tourist spends an average of $ 114 per day in the country. The annual income is roughly $ 1900. So Burma earns the most from oil and gas exports and not from foreign exchange from tourists.

Important facts

Alternative name: Burma

Capital: Rangoon

Official language: Burmese

Currency

Currency (sub-unit)

Kyat (100 pyas)

ISO 4217 code

MMK / 104

Geography

Continent: Asia

Region: Southeast

Geo coordinates: N 21 ° 54 ‘50.3 “E 95 ° 57’ 22.4”

Highest mountain: Hkakabo (5,881 m)

Total area: 678,500 km²

Mainland: 657,740 km²

National border: 5,876 km

Coastline: 1,930 km

Politics

Dependency: Great Britain until 1948

UN member since: 1948

Economy

Export goods: Rice, teak, rubber

GDP: $ 107.183 billion

GDP purchasing power parity: $ 81,030,000,000

GDP share of agriculture: 56%

GDP share of industry: 8th %

GDP share of services: 36%

Inflation rate: 24.7%

Unemployment: 4.7%

State budget revenue: $ 4294967295

State budget expenditure: $ 4294967295

Export: $ 3,742,000,000

Import: $ 4,755,000,000

Foreign debt: $ 7,323,000,000

Gold and currency reserves: $ 827,000,000

Electricity
consumption: 7,907 million KWh

Gas reserves: 2,832,000 million m³

Gas production: 10,580 million m³

Gas consumption: 1,830 million m³

Oil reserves: 1,000 million m³

Oil production: 18,900 million m³

Oil consumption: 38,000 million m³

Cultivation area: 16.25%

Bovine: 12,246,000 pieces

Pigs: 4,921,000 pieces

Fishing: 1,376,000 t

Demographic data

Residents: 45,382,700

Residents in cities: 14,592,300

Average age: 27 years

0-14 years: 26.4%

15-64 years: 68.5%

> 65 years: 5.1%

Population growth: 0.81%

Birth rate: 17.91 / 1,000 residents

Death rate: 9.83 / 1,000 residents

Ratio men / women: 0.97

Fertility: 1.98 children / woman

Infant mortality: 61.85 ‰

Life expectancy men: 58.07 years

Life expectancy women: 64.03 years

Country codes

ISO 3166 Alpha 2: MM

ISO 3166 Alpha 3: MMR

ISO 3166 numeric: 104

Top Level Domain: mm

IOC country code: MYA

UN / LOCODE: MM

Source: Abbreviationfinder

Communication

Telephone connections: 489,000

Cell Phones: 153,000

TV: 500,000

Computer: 290,000

Internet users: 82,000

Transportation

Railway lines: 3,995 km

Paved roads: 3,213 km

Cars: 379,000

Merchant fleet (ships over 1,000 GRT): 34

Pipelines: 2,624

Health

Number of doctors: 15,240

Daily food intake: 2.870 kcal / resident

HIV- infected people: 360,000

Education

Illiteracy: 14%

History

Foundation: 1044

Last sovereign since: 1948

Religion

Main religious group: Buddhists

Crime

Prison inmates: 60,800

Military

Armed forces (troop strength): 494,000

Main battle tank: 100

Warplanes: 120

GETTING THERE

Arriving by plane

Myanmar’s national airline is called Myanmar International Airways (UB) (Internet: www.maiair.com). Direct flights to Yangon are available from Bangkok, Singapore, Jakarta, Bangladesh, Calcutta, Kunming and Moscow.

Vietnam Airlines (VN) flies directly from Hanoi to Yangon (there are direct flights to Hanoi from Frankfurt with Vietnam Airlines).

Lufthansa (LH) flies several times a week to Yangon with a stopover in Bangkok. Condor (DE) flies directly from Frankfurt aM to Yangon.

Other airlines that fly to Myanmar include: Air China (CA), Air France (AF), Austrian Airlines (OS), British Airways (BA), Malaysia Airlines (MH), Eva Air (BR), Swiss (LX) and Thai Airways (TG).

Departure fee

US $ 10. Transit passengers are exempt.

Arrival by car

The Tarchilek, Myawady and Kawthaung border crossings between Myanmar and Thailand are currently open. It is advisable to find out about the current situation at the respective embassy before starting your journey.

Arrival by ship

The port of Yangon is served by several cruise lines.

ON THE GO

warning

Travel to certain parts of the country, mostly border areas, is not permitted. Details from the embassy (see addresses).

Travelers must keep their passport with them at all times.

There are frequent roadblocks on highways by the police, the military and other authorities.

During the monsoons, traffic routes (roads and railways) are often flooded and therefore impassable.

Traveling by plane

The plane is the best mode of transport if long distances are to be covered within the country. Air Mandalay (6T) (Internet: www.airmandalay.com, Air Yangon (YH) (Internet: www.yangonair.com) and Air Bagan (W9) (Internet: www.airbagan.com) fly to interesting tourist destinations. Air KBZ (K7) (Internet: www.airkbz.com) and Asian Wings (AW) (Internet: www.asianwingsair.com) also offer domestic flights.
The Federal Foreign Office advises avoiding air travel with the state domestic airline Myanma Airways (UB) for security reasons. Myanma Airways is not identical to the internationally operating Myanmar Airways International (8M).
There are flights to most cities, as well as charter flights. Over 60 runways are available.

Golden Myanmar Airlines (Internet: www.gmairlines.com) flies daily from Yangon to Mandalay and back.
Flight times

Yangon / Yangon – Mandalay: 1 hour (non-stop), 2 hours 5 minutes (no direct flight, 1 stopover); Yangon / Yangon – B agan: 1 hour 20 minutes; Yangon / Yangon – Heho: 1 hour 25 min.

Departure fee

The airport fee for domestic flights is MMK 1000. It is usually included in the ticket price. It only has to be paid at check-in in exceptional cases.

Right-hand traffic / left-hand traffic r car rental

Driving is prohibited for foreigners in Myanmar.

Coach

Buses from the state-owned transport company are in poor technical condition, but more comfortable, air-conditioned buses from private bus companies are now available. The main routes run from Yangon to Meiktila, Pyay, Mandalay and Taunggyi. Tickets should be bought one day in advance.

Traveling in the city

Yangon has a circular railway line. Buses run in all cities, but most of them are outdated and overcrowded. Taxis without taximeter are available, as well as motorbike and bicycle rickshaws. The fare should be agreed in advance, tips are not expected.

On the go by train

The Myanmar Railways trains operate on various routes, the most important of which is from Rangoon to Mandalay (travel time 12-14 hours). There are regular rail connections on the Yangon – Bagan, Yangon – Motta and Yangon – Pyi routes.

Night trains usually have sleeping cars. The route network leads to almost all parts of the country. With the exception of the Yangon – Mandalay route, all train connections are affected by regular delays and other disruptions caused by climatic, technical and bureaucratic difficulties. Tickets must be purchased through Myanmar Travels and Tours, if possible 24 hours in advance. It is advisable to drive 1st class.

Out and about by ship

The best way to get to know the country is by boat, especially on the Irawady between Bhamo and Mandalay and between Mandalay via Bagan and Pyay. Luxury cruise ships from Orient-Express Trains & Cruises sail on the Irawady between Bagan and Rangoon and from Mandalay over the Chindwin River to Yangon.

The Irrawady has its source in the Himalayas and flows 2170 kilometers through Myanmar until it flows into the Indian Ocean. There is only an express connection between Mandalay and Bagan, otherwise ship or boat trips are rather slow.

Ships also operate on the Kalanda River between Mrauk U and Sittwe.

In addition to the state-owned Inland Water Transport, there are also private shipping companies, including Mandalay – Bagan Express Ferry. Tickets and reservations are available from travel agents or Myanmar Travels and Tours.