High Demand for Travel to Burma Prompts Grand Circle to Add Second Itinerary for 2013

BOSTON, Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Grand Circle Corporation's Chairman and CEO Alan E. Lewis today announced that more than 2,000 older Americans are expected to travel to Burma in 2013 with Overseas Adventure Travel or Grand Circle Cruise Line—two of Grand Circle's travel brands that serve Americans aged 50 and older.  Overseas Adventure Travel began operating in Burma in 2012, while Grand Circle Cruise Line's small ship cruise tour in Burma begins next year.

"Today, Burma is one of the hottest destinations in the world following the encouragement by Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi of foreign visitors," said Lewis. "Until recently, Burma, now known as Myanmar, had been isolated to the world.  Visitors today are fascinated by Burma's shimmering pagodas, 'one-legged' rowers casting their fishing nets, farmers tending their floating gardens, and hill tribe members who cling to ancient ways of life.  It's no surprise that demand is high; the country is full of incredible history, culture and people."

In January 2012, OAT launched Burma: Land of Golden Temples & Floating Gardens, a 15-day adventure that explores Rangoon, Bagan, Mandalay, Kalow, and Inle Lake.   The small group operator anticipated that 450 Americans would travel to Burma; instead, 1025 did...in small groups of just 10-16 people.  OAT expects 1300 travelers in 2013 on its Burma adventure, which begins at $3295, or $220 a day, and includes free single supplements.  For information, please visit Burma: Land of Golden Temples & Floating Gardens.

Due to high demand for Burma, OAT's sister company, Grand Circle Cruise Line, will launch a new, 34-passenger small ship cruise tour beginning in March 2013.  The 15-day Burma & the Irrawaddy River: Bagan to Mandalay begins at $3595, or $240 a day, and explores Rangoon, Bagan, Yandabo, Mingin and Mandalay.  The cruise line expects 700 passengers in 2013 and 1200 passengers in 2014.  For information, please visit Burma & the Irrawaddy River: Bagan to Mandalay

To view a video of Burma, please click Video of Burma.

About Grand Circle Corporation
Grand Circle Corporation is the leader in international travel, adventure, and discovery for Americans age 50 and older.  Through its brands Grand Circle Cruise Line (est. 1998), Overseas Adventure Travel (est. 1978), and Grand Circle Travel (est. 1958), Grand Circle offers more than 85 vacations, including small ship cruises and cruise tours, river cruises and cruise tours, small group adventures by land and sea, escorted tours, and extended stay vacations—plus hundreds of pre-and-post trip combinations.  Since its establishment in 1992, Grand Circle's charitable arm, Grand Circle Foundation, has donated or pledged  $92 million to more than 300 humanitarian, cultural and educational organizations in 50 countries, including 100 schools in 30 countries today. Grand Circle is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts and has more than 30 offices worldwide.

SOURCE Grand Circle Corporation