Financial flow Management This section examines a variety of financial flow items, including the ease of exchanging foreign currency into local Myanmar kyats and the ability to use credit cards and traveler’s checks. Of all the logistics items, tourists are most dissatisfied with financial flow management (1.3 overall). ‘Because the official exchange rate it less favorable than the market rate, the majority of tourists, as advised by their travel agents, do not change money upon arrival at the airport — which can officially only be done through two government banks. Instead, they change money (typically dollars) with their local agency or tour service. The local agencies also willingly re-exchange any unused portion upon departure at the same exchange rate. This is a value-added service unique to Myanmar, created as a solution to the difficult foreign exchange environment. Because of American sanctions, tourists cannot use credit cards or traveler’s cheques in Myanmar. ATM transactions are not available either. Aside from the inconvenience this creates, tourists must anticipate what they are going to spend in Myanmar and carry it all in foreign currency cash. Although there is little danger of theft in Myanmar, many tourists are not comfortable carrying large amounts of cash. This constrains how much a tourist can spend in Myanmar. If they underestimate their needs, they have few options for accessing additional money. As most tourists are typically on pre-paid tours, this does not usually create a problem with accommodations or food but may well constrain the souvenir and handicraft shopping they might like to do. Their shopping will be limited by the cash on hand, regardless of how much they see that they may want. As most tourists are first-time visitors, they may have little idea ahead of time how to gauge or anticipate their cash needs and may often end up with an unanticipated budget constraint created by having brought too little cash with them. A few hotels and shops offer credit card transactions, but they are typically offered at a very high commission rate and are handled through an offshore account. Availability of credit card transactions received the lowest possible score (1.0). American dollars are also accepted for purchases at many locations without the tourist having first to exchange into kyats At Yangon Mingaladon International Airport, the airport tax is not included in the airline ticket price as occurs in most locations now. While Thai International collects the airport tax directly at the check-in counter, most passengers have to go to the Directorate of Civil Aviation counter to pay the tax. For this reason, the score was unsatisfactory (2.6). The total average satisfaction level for all financial flow management items was extremely low (l.3), in part due to existing sanctions. In an increasingly global world with tourists expecting ready availability of credit card and ATM services, Myanmar must work to develop the ease of financial transactions. The difficult financial environment constrains tourists’ ability to shop as much as they might like in Myanmar or add onto their pre-arranged travel plans as they face a budget constraint of cash on hand.