The document presents how ActionAid Myanmar engages with tourism in Bagan to empower local communities, focusing on women and youth. With 300,000 tourists in 2014, opportunities for community benefits include food sales and souvenirs, potentially generating significant income. The initiative aims to create linkages between tourism and local sectors, emphasizing the importance of community empowerment and cultural respect for sustainable development.

1. Community engagement in
Tourism:
Opportunities in Bagan
Presented by
Shihab Uddin Ahamad
Country Director
ActionAid Myanmar

2. About ActionAid Myanmar
•It is part of AAI federation
•Working in Myanmar since 2000
•Major focus on women and youth
•Development philosophy based on Human
Rights Based Approach

3. Fellowship for
youth in
community
Development
is the central
of all our work

4. Community
led Planning
through
village book
approach is
foundation of
all program
decisions

5. Why ActionAid is involve in Tourism?
• Because community identified through VB that it is
an opportunity for them
• AAM is working around 200 villages around Bagan
• 300,000 tourist visited Bagan in 2014
• This is a significant number for any communities to
be encouraged to engage with CBT

6. Encouraging trends globally..
• Women represent between 60 and 70 percent of the HCT
labor force.
• Half of the workforce is composed of youth under 25 years of
age.
• tourism exports, measured by international tourism receipts,
reached a record of $1,030 billion in 2011, When the value of
international passenger transport is added, the overall
income generated by inbound travel and tourism in 2011
exceeds $1.2 trillion.

7. What are the opportunities for Communities?
Selling food:
300000 tourist x $30 spent for food = $9m per year
1/9th goes to local food producers, makes income $1m
Selling souvenir/ handicrafts
$20 per tourist spending makes income for $6m

8. Opportunities for Hotels?
1 night extra night stay in Bagan because of
additional activities such as a day trip to a local
community can increase additional income for
Hotels up to $120m (300000touristx 1night x rate
$40 avg.)

9. ActionAid support
in CBT

21. • Some places Agriculture income alone is not enough to ensure basic
needs of the people but also we can not afford to let the agriculture
work disappear, complementary or subsidiary income opportunities
need to explore.
• Need to build “linkages” with sectors in agriculture, fishing, food
processing, handicrafts and other services. Such linkages provides
sustainable market opportunities for local suppliers and strengthen
local production while offering tourists an authentic cultural exposure

22. Challenges and opportunities
• Achieving human rights depends on power of people
• It is very important to empower community before start CBT to
ensure community are capable enough to protect themselves from
any potential harm
• Sustainability of CBT depends on empowering community led process
• Identify what good culture can be promoted such as, not “smoke” in
public, not drink alcohol in front of Children, Planting trees, care
about environment, respecting women, respecting local culture such
as joining meditation in the morning etc.
• Educational opportunities for visitors

23. Thank you
Shihab.Uddin@actionaid.org
www.actionaid.org
Facebook: ActionAid Myanmar