Tell BBC Worldwide to withdraw its Burma Lonely Planet guide

Despite recognised links between mass human rights abuses and the tourism industry in Burma, BBC Worldwide Ltd - the new owners of the Lonely Planet travel guides - is refusing to withdraw its Myanmar (Burma) guidebook.

As TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber, today met Federation of Trade Unions of Burma General Secretary Maung Maung for talks at Congress House, the TUC, in cooperation with Tourism Concern The New Internationalist and the Burma Campaign UK, launched an online petition to call on BBC Worldwide - publishers of the Lonely Planet Guide to Burma - to withdraw the guide.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: 'The people that know the country the best - its trade unions and the Burmese democracy movement - want the world's tourists to stay away from Burma. The Lonely Planet book currently suggests that Burma is a perfectly acceptable holiday destination. But people would be less likely to visit the country if there were no guidebook to help them decide where to go. The BBC should stop promoting holidays to Burma and withdraw the Lonely Planet book immediately.'

You can view and add your voice to the petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Burma-Campaign-Action

Briefing document (300 words) issued 7 Feb 2008