Lonely Planet's Burma guide called unethical

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-23-2008 @ 12:08AM

David said...

Speaking of marginally informed, I'll add my two cents here:

I've done a lot of time (years, in fact) in Asia with LPs books. Especially in poorer places, the locals pick up on where the tourists are being sent (LP China had instructions for a hike along the great wall. Where the hike ended, several kilometers from where it started, there was very little save for a cafe with 'Lonely Planet Cafe' painted on the side).

That said, even when I was in Thailand _during the elections_ I didn't feel like I had a good grasp on the local political scene. And equally rarely would I have had idea one if my cozy crash space and/or meals were being provided by a savvy government operation. They didn't seem to be. But my (Cambodian/Thai/Chinese/whatever) isn't so good, and I'm most assuredly not a local - by definition.

I'm not sure if they still do it, but the North Koreans used to offer a stage-managed tour of the country. It's hard to think the money there wasn't being used to support the regime. This situation is less clear - not having been there I can't say. Either way, I don't think the book should be withdrawn. People make their own choices. I think the book should note the concerns of where the money goes, and should offer advice on how to be sure, if you do go, your money goes to the right place. But withdrawal seems too much like censorship.

2-23-2008 @ 8:37AM

Justin Glow said...

David, North Korea still does offer the managed tours of their country. One of our writers, Neil Woodburn, went on this tour and reported back:

http://www.gadling.com/infiltrating_north_korea_by_neil_woodburn/

2-23-2008 @ 10:17AM

Leif said...

David,

Oh the managed tours are most certainly going on in Myanmar. Telltale signs are the new vans with tinted windows (with functioning seatbelts!), with a cooler of drinks inside and guests that are not allowed to speak directly to anyone but their guide. This is why I make a point of using the words 'independent travelers' above.

There's no way to avoid giving at least a little of your money to Burma's regime when you visit, but you can drastically control how much goes to the regime, and that's part of what LP is trying to accomplish with the Burma guidebook. Is every hostel/restaurant/bus company listed without a doubt independent and not associated with the junta? Probably not. But most are.

And any time you see a business of any kind calling itself 'Lonely Planet Something', please report it at lonelyplanet.com. There are no officially sanctioned LP affiliate businesses anywhere in the world and LP actively goes after anyone using their name in any capacity.

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