LocationSouth-East Asia.
Area676,552 sq km (261,218 sq miles).
Population47.4 million (CIA estimate 2007).
Population Density70.1 per sq km.
CapitalYangon (Rangoon).
Population: 4.1 million (UN estimate 2005). Administrative capital: Nay Pyi Taw. Note: The authorities plan to move the seat of government to Pyinmana.
GovernmentSocialist Republic since 1974. Power assumed by the army in 1988.
LanguageThe official language is Myanmar (Burmese). There are over 100
dialects spoken in Myanmar. English is spoken in business circles.
Religion89% Theravada Buddhist. The remainder are Hindu, Muslim, Christian and animist.
TimeGMT + 6.5.
Electricity220-230 volts AC, 50Hz.
Head of GovernmentPrime Minister Soe Win since 2004.
Head of StateSenior General Than Shwe since 1992.
TelephoneCountry code: 95. Only larger cities can be dialed direct from within Myanmar; smaller towns still use manual switchboards and callers need to ask the operator to connect them to a specific town operator. International calls are difficult to place outside hotels.
Mobile TelephoneThere is no international roaming in Myanmar.
Note: Mobile phones may be collected by customs on arrival and released to you upon departure.
InternetThere are a few Internet cafes, but access to many free international e-mail services is blocked. All Internet use is monitored by the government and is usually expensive.
MediaThe military junta closely oversees the media, thereby preventing criticism from within, supressing any bad news (even bad sport results) and heavily censoring all other programming.
PostService to Europe takes up to one week and letter forms are quicker than ordinary letters. To ensure despatch, it is advisable to go to the post office personally to obtain a certificate of posting, for which a small fee is charged.
Press•
New Light of Myanmar is the English-language voice of the government.
•
Kyehmon is the principal state daily.
•
Myanmar Times is a state-run English-language weekly.
Radio• Radio Myanmar is state-run.
•
City FM is a Yangon-based entertainment channel.
• Democratic Voice of Burma is an opposition station based in Norway and broadcasts via shortwave.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.
2009
4 Jan Independence Day.
12 Feb Union Day.
2 Mar Peasants' Day.
10 Mar Full Moon of Tabaung.
27 Mar Armed Forces Day.
12-16 Apr Maha Thingyan (Water Festival).
17-21 Apr Myanmar New Year.
1 May May Day.
8 May Full Moon of Kasone.
6 Jul Full Moon of Waso (Beginning of Buddhist Lent).
19 Jul Martyr's Day.
3 Oct Full Moon of Thadingyut (End of Buddhist Lent).
1 Nov Tazaungmon Full Moon Day.
11 Nov National Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
2010
4 Jan Independence Day.
12 Feb Union Day.
2 Mar Peasants' Day.
27 Mar Armed Forces Day.
Mar* Full Moon of Tabaung.
Apr* Maha Thingyan (Water Festival).
Apr* Myanmar New Year.
Apr* Full Moon of Kasone.
1 May May Day.
19 Jul Martyr's Day.
Jul* Full Moon of Waso (Beginning of Buddhist Lent).
Oct* Full Moon of Thadingyut (End of Buddhist Lent).
Nov* Tazaungmon Full Moon Day.
Nov* National Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.
* Dates to be confirmed.
NoteBuddhist holidays are determined according to lunar sightings, and dates given here are approximations only. Other festivals celebrated by minorities include the Islamic observance of Bakri Idd in late November; Christmas and Easter; and the Karen New Year in early January. For further information, contact the embassy (see
General Info).
Contact Information:Myanmar Tourism Promotion Boardc/o Traders Hotel, Level 3, Business Center, 223 Sule Pagoda Road, Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: (1) 242 828 ext 6462.
Website:
www.myanmar-tourism.com Embassy of the Union of Myanmar in the UK19A Charles Street, Berkeley Square, London W1J 5DX, UK
Tel: (020) 7499 8841
or 7629 6966.
Website:
www.myanmar.com Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0930-1630.
Embassy of the Union of Myanmar in the USA2300 S Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 332 3344
or 4350.
Website:
www.mewashingtondc.com
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