Can tourist save the handicrafts of Bagan?

Slug: Myanmar handicraft

Reporter: ZawHtet
Slug: Myanmar Handicraft
INTRO
Handcraft businesses in the ancient city of Bagan are facing a bit of a crisis.
The rising costs of raw materials in Myanmar and shortage of skilled workers mean many lacuerware
shops in the city ha!e had to close.
But a recent surge in tourists coming to see the famous Bagan temples might be able to sa!e many
businesses from going under.
ZawHtet from "#B reports from Bagan$
TEXT
S%& Man making handicrafts
The ancient capital of the 'ingdom of Bagan is the seat of Burma(s famed lacuerware industry.
)round the temples are brightly coloured stalls selling these handicrafts to tourists.
But the price of raw materials has soured and skilled labour in the city is hard to come by.
S%& Man making handicrafts
*n the past there were lots of lacuerware businesses.
But recently many ha!e had to close + now there are only ,- self.run businesses in the city.
/hn Mar(s business has faced problems but she(s managing to keep afloat.
/hn Mar , 0%emale1 Burmese2 3*n the lacuerware business1 the main raw material is natural plant dye.
4ow1 plant dye is not like before1 it(s !ery scarce.
The plant dye + or lacuer . comes from Shan state.
Because of deforestation and a shortage of labour1 the price has risen.
)lso the tourism industry in Bagan has boomed and more and more hotels are being built.
/hn Mar says young people are choosing to go into hospitality1 which pays more1 rather than take up
the craftsman trade.
/hn Mar 5 0%emale1 Burmese2 3Some from lacuer ware business mo!ed to hotel business1 some
became car dri!ers1 or shopkeepers. Staff mo!ed to other businesses close by. They can earn more in
hotel or shop keeping business.6
7acuer designer and business owner1 8 Mya says1 it takes years to perfect the skills of being a
craftsman.
)nd patience too . it can take months to make a single piece.
U Mya, cli ! "Male, Bur#ese$ 3To become a designer for lacuerware1 one needs to train for about
three years. This is not at an e9pert le!el but the basic le!el. That is why the lacuer business is seeing
a shortage of workers. %or us1 this is a traditional business and we lo!e our tradition.6
%&X In sho 'uying things
But the influ9 of tourists may also be able to help +
7ast year two hundred thousand foreigners !isited the city and its famous temples.
)nd the tourists are bringing their money and lo!e of sou!enirs with them.
)ung7win1 a craftsman at Tun 7acuerware :nterprise1 e9plains.
(ung)*in, cli ! "Male, Bur#ese$: 34ow business is good as Bagan is seeing more !isitors and * am
delighted. Seeing something that * created being !alued by the tourists makes me happy1 as * always try
to be different from other makers.6
)nd thanks to the country opening up.... /hn Mar can accept credit cards for the first time.
Ohn Mar cli +" &e#ale, Bur#ese$: 3*n the past1 they(d come with the cards and we didn(t
understand how they work. )s Burmese banks are now connected to international networks1 allowing
payment with credit cards such as Master and #isa cards1 our sales are getting better this year.6
*f the number of tourists keeps rising1 it may be enough to sustain the old traditional lacuer businesses.
&or (sia Calling this reort *as roduced 'y ,a*-tet fro# ./B