Tour operators have defended their decision to send tourists to Burma despite being accused of supporting the country’s brutal regime.
Tourism Concern has accused 15 British tour operators of using hotels and resorts “with known links to Burma’s military regime and those individuals who personally profit from the repressive activities and human rights abuses that it perpetrates.”
The charity is now hoping the forthcoming tightening of European legislation will close the loophole and prevent this happening in the future.
However, Bales Worldwide one of the companies named, defended its decision to feature the destination in its programme. Sales director Iain Fenton said: “We are a non-political organisation and there is a lot of potential harm you can do by isolating a country.
“At this point in time we have no reason to believe that [Tourism Concern’s claims] are the case.”
TransIndus product director Shivjit Bagga, whose company was also named, added: “I would want Tourism Concern to give more facts and supporting evidence before I defend anything.”