Customized trips and eco-tours to Myanmar (Burma)

Dear friends of Bo-Tree, In February 2008 I quit Bo-Tree Travel, the company I founded some eight years ago with a local partner. The reason for this decision was a series of disagreements with my local partner that have been going on for some time and culminated last year. Together with a new partner I founded AZURE SKY TOURS some time ago. Even in this difficult season (following the troubles in Yangon in September, 2007) the new company has managed several successful and enjoyable tours. I have "taken along" the reliable team from my old office and thus I can guarantee that our service will remain unchanged in the future. You may reach us at the following e-mail-address: azureskytours@gmail.com I have no idea what has become of 'Bo-Tree' but there are rumours that incoming tours for the company will be handled by another agent. Bo-Tree, as it was, doesn't exist any more, just the name remains! I'd be happy and pleased if you'd use our service in the future, too. Dr. Axel Bruns
Since coming to Myanmar (then Burma) for the first time back in 1977 I have been fascinated by this country. Its friendly people combined with some of the most important archaeologial sites in South East Asia and a beautiful countryside make it hard to understand why Myanmar is still a touristic 'backwater". I've always felt that this country has an enormous potential only waiting to be discovered. In 1986, I started to work as a tour guide leading private tours as well as others for the most important German tour agencies. In addition, I know most of China, India and South East Asia but of course Myanmar has always had a special place in my heart. During this work I had ample opportunity to study the problems of tourism in Myanmar. In 2000, I opened my own travel agency (see above) and have been able to show the beauty of Myanmar to thousands of guests and, may I add, all of them have been fascinated and many of them have come back later.		A word... from Dr. Axel Bruns
Myanmar's culture has captured my imagination from the moment of my arrival and I immediately started to develop a keen interest in it. This resulted in quite a few books about the country. In 1990, I wrote the first one (in German) about the country's marionette theatre. In 1996 "Nelles Guide Myanmar" followed and to this day it is one of the most successful guide books on Myanmar in the German language, running to several editions. It has been translated into major European languages, too. In 1991, I started to learn Burmese at Berlin's Humboldt University for my doctoral thesis on the Burmese marionette theatre (published in 1999). "Burmese Puppetry", my first book in English was published in 2006 by White Lotus, Bangkok. At the time being I am working on my newest book "How to be a good tour guide in Myanmar" and I hope to be able to share my experience of more than 20 years of tour guiding in this country with my Burmese colleagues who are working in the trade.

I've been busy in related fields, too! In 2004, I accompanied a team from STERN magazine (Germany) who did some research on Burmese Buddhism for a book project ("The six world religions"). In 2006, I assisted a film team from Germany (RTV-studio) during the shooting of "Myanmar - Journey into a lost Era" (premiered in 2007 in German, English and French) - the film has won several awards at film festivals throughout Europe and was also shown on German TV. So, whatever you plan to do about Myanmar: an article, a film, a book or whatever - I'll happily assist you in your work!

Since the mid-1990s the country has taken several steps to welcome more tourists. The most important was certainly to allow private companies to operate in this field! Gone are the days of lousy hotels, decrepit buses and airplanes as well as the infamous Burma-belly. Nowadays, hundreds of good restaurants are serving excellent food, and modern, well maintained means of transport connect the major tourist destinations. At these destinations, visitors can find excellent accommodation all the way from four-star-comfort down to budget hotels.

Amazingly, so far this has only led to a slight increase in the number of tourists since the mid-90s. Even in its best season (2006/2007) the number of tourists coming to Myanmar is a trifle compared to those visiting neighbouring Thailand. One of the reasons is that, unfortunately, Myanmar continues to have a bad image in the West. I agree that this is not a democratic country (the government has promised free elections for 2010) but that is also true of China, Vietnam and others whose tourist trade is booming! It seems that many potential visitors believe they can help the local people by staying away from the country but this is simply not true. The reality is very different. For example, I just (April 2008) returned from a trip to the major tourist destinations and I couldn't help but pity the people in the travel business. Hotel workers and drivers had lost their jobs, restaurants had to close down and tour guides started to do menial employment - all because of the lack of tourists. In Myanmar good jobs are rare and the loss of a well paid job does not only cause a problem for one person. No, as every worker in our industry supports a big familiy! I've seen similar developments in the garment industry - due to the sanctions imposed by the West a lot of young girls lost their jobs and ended up in prostitution! Does anybody really believe this is helping the local people? This country and its people need money to develop which of course doesn't mean that we support every project that is financed with our taxes! Like every country, Myanmar and its people need money to develop. Through our business and your support, we can make a difference to the lives of many ordinary people.

Please be our guest in Myanmar and we will show you one of the most beautiful countries in the world!

Dr. Axel Bruns and his team