Home Stay in Myanmar

First of all, I do apologize as the theme of this post would not probably match with the title. Perhaps you may expect available homestay arrangements or all about homestay in Myanmar actually it is NOT for the moment. I have just chatted with a Myanmar offshore tour operator about said matter especially the possibilities, advantages and disadvantages of doing homestay in Myanmar. In fact, I used to discussed with many people from various destinations and various destinations of Myanmar Tourism Industry.

We expected that would be developed sooner in the future but it was a few years ago and now I am wondering why it is still not in our list of products.

The Definition

“Homestay is a form of tourism and/or study abroad program that allows visitors to rent a room from a local family to better learn the local lifestyle as well as improve their language ability.[1] While homestays can occur in any destination worldwide, some countries do more to encourage homestay than others as a means of developing their tourism industry.”

Wikipedia (the free online encyclopedia)

However, it can go a bit further and wider in an aspect of tourism industry in a particular nation. There are many reasons to develop homestay and why it should be. Some of our neighboring countries have opened up their home doors to foreign guest to have a genuine taste of their tradition and lifestyle. And of course, experiencing a homestay in a traditional village is logically one of the fastest and easiest ways to get studied what “real life” like the country is. It can be a village in typical Myanmar village in the central part of Myanmar or a village in Mt. Vitoria area; perhaps it can be in a village around Mon or Karan State. In fact, it can be anywhere in Myanmar even in a suburb area of Yangon; somewhere like Mingalardon or North Okkalapa.

There is no doubt “Myanmar is the richest country in terms of many factors”. Myanmar is rich in natural resources; Myanmar is rich in cultural heritages, Myanmar is rich in …. We can always proud on that. The hundred over ethnic groups have their own tradition, belief and customaries. There are always thousands of things to study and learn from them. The visitor can study and experience the broad spectrum of a village life.

The possible chances to learn from a host village:

• The geographic study of a host village

• General daily lifestyle

• Traditional costumes & artifacts

• Occupational works (method, articles, traditional ideas etc)

• Farming (method, articles, traditional ideas etc)

• Home-cooking lessons (main foods and delicacies)
• Traditional Games (indoor and outdoor games and related toys

• Traditional Arts (cultural dance, songs and instruments)

• Language (Dialects)

• Festive activities

• Ceremonies (Religious ceremonies, weddings, funerals etc)

• Ways of thinking, philosophy and ideology

• Dos and Don’ts/taboos

• Others

There are also a number of benefits of Homestay which comes under Tourism. On very large scale it offers an alternative to some destructive industries for generating income both nationally and individually. It can surely create jobs in many different areas.

Possible Advantages of Homestay:

• Develop job opportunities

• Opportunity for economic and educational growth

• Opportunity to experience other cultures (which broadens understanding)

• Improving infrastructure (road, bridge, hospital, etc)

If the Homestay is properly developed, the generated income can be tremendously beneficial to the nation and her local communities. The income can be used on the region to improve infrastructures, better education, better health care, for conservational projects, and to promote responsible tourism.

*Note: I am not an academic and merely a tour operator. Therefore if there are mistakes and weakness in this post, please kindly point it out.

Ref:

- Wikipedia (The free encyclopedia)

- Tourism Malaysia

- Notes from Auburn University