Burma-Myanma(r) Research
and its Future

Implications for Scholars and Policymakers,
Sat 21-Wed 25 September 2002,
Gothenburg, Sweden

1st Collaborative International Conference of the Burma Studies Group (BSG) in conjunction with the Centre for Asian Studies (CEAS), Gothenburg University. Sponsored by: Gothenburg University (Faculty of Social Science and Vice-Chancellor's Office), International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), South East Asia committee of the Association of Asian Studies (AAS), the Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (NIAS), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the Nordic Academy for Advanced Studies (NorFA - Nordisk Forskerutdanningsakademi) and the Centre of East and Southeast Asian Studies, Lund University.

conference home page
http://www.therai.org.uk/anthcal/myanmarburma2002.html
provisional list of panels and speakers
http://www.therai.org.uk/anthcal/myanmarburma2002events.html
travel to and in Gothenburg
http://www.therai.org.uk/anthcal/myanmarburma2002travel.html

Travel to and within Gothenburg

LOCAL TRANSPORT

Most flights arrive at Landvetter Airport (or Save Airport for Ryan Air flights from London). Both airports have bus connections with Gothenburg Central Station, from where hotels and conference venue are only 15-20 minutes by tram.

Gothenburg-Landvetter airport (airport code: GOT) is situated 25 km East of Gothenburg.
http://www.worldairportguide.com/Airports/got/got.asp

Bus travel: Right next to the taxi stand is the terminal for the airport bus called Flygbuss that also stops right opposite the conference hotel/campus center. The bus cost is SEK 50 to Gothenburg.

Taxi: available for a general cost of ~270-300 SEK. Note: All taxis take credit cards. Also, confirm the taxi cost (~270 SEK) prior to taking the taxi.

Gothenburg-Säve Airport (for Ryan Air fom London, Charter, private and taxi flights) is situated 12 km north-west of Gothenburg, near Volvo, about 15 minutes from Gothenburg.

Bus travel: There is coach service from the airport to Gothenburg. The bus leaves 30 minutes after the arrival of the Ryan Air aircraft. The bus back to the airport leaves the bus terminal 90 minutes before the aircraft takes off. The travelling time between the airport and bus terminal is 30 minutes.

Taxi: There is a regular taxi service to Gothenburg Central Station from the airport with Taxi Goteborg. This costs SEK265.
Tel.No: +46 31 65 15 00

To conveniently travel around Gothenburg, you may wish to buy a 100 Kronor Gothenburg Transport Card, available from all tobacconists. These are cheaper to use than paying for individual trips and save time. They are valid on all Gothenburg's tramlines, buses and ferries.

You enter the tram through any door and insert the card into the ticket machine arrow down. Press number 2 ONCE ONLY (this will also print on your ticket the amount that is left on it). If you need to change trams on the way, you need not necessarily stamp a second time as it is valid (I believe) for up to 90 minutes. To check if you need to pay again, insert the ticket in the machine, press the WHITE BUTTON and if it is still valid, it will NOT beep.

There is a useful map of the tram grid at
http://www.vasttrafik.se/tponline/sparvagnsnatet.htm

VISAS

In Sweden, entry visas are governed by the rules in the Schengen Agreement. Under the Agreement, all the EU countries (except Ireland and the UK) as well as the EEA countries of Norway and Iceland have opened their borders to one another. A visa issued for a visit to one of these countries is normally valid in all of the other countries as well. Only in exceptional cases can a person be granted a visa that is valid in one country only.

The conference organizers will provide a personal letter of invitation to anyone who needs to negotiate visa formalities. Please email Gustaaf Houtman .
http://www.utrikes.regeringen.se/inenglish/missions/

For a list of countries for which citizens require visas see:
http://www.utrikes.regeringen.se/konsularinfo/visering_tillsverige.htm

For online application forms and factsheets about visas see:
http://www.migrationsverket.se/english.html

INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT

We have negotiated fares with Thai Airways from Rangoon-Yangon and Thailand. Please get in touch if you need to know more.

The website will continue to be updated with details of how to travel to Gothenburg in the cheapest way.
http://www.therai.org.uk/anthcal/myanmarburma2002.html

Air

It is easy to get to Gothenburg (Göteborg in Swedish) from different places around the world. SAS, KLM and other airlines offer daily flights to and from all major European destinations, either directly or via Copenhagen. Most international flights are accessible from Copenhagen. Flight time from Copenhagen to Göteborg is 35 minutes.

However, the cheapest route, both for intercontinental flights and even from elsewhere in Europe, tend to be when you book in two stretches. The first stretch should be a major international airport hub in Europe with good and cheap connections to Gothenburg. London is particularly well-serviced in that sense and has very cheap connections to Gothenburg. So you may find it even pays to travel via London when coming from other countries in Europe that have no direct connections to Gothenburg.

The following are some well-known Internet booking services:
http://www.travelselect.com
http://www.opodo.com
http://www.flights.com
http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/dep/Gothenburg_dep.html

Specially cheap air deals to Gothenburg for between US$60-150 return:

Goodjet - From Paris or Nice to Gothenburg - - from around 70 Euros each way
http://www.goodjet.com/fr

Ryan Air - cheap no-frills London Stansted Airport-Gothenburg Save Airport flights, often for well under £ 100 return. One-way are as easy as two-way flights:
http://www.ryanair.co.uk/dest/gothenburg.html  
http://www.bookryanair.com/skylights/cgi-bin/skylights.cgi

Stansted Airport is 1 hr 30 mins from London Victoria Station by Airport bus (picking up at Baker Street, Finchley Road, Golders Green). Every half hour, 24 hrs, £12 return. Sometimes the bus is full at Victoria Station, esp. with the early morning flight, and you may not be able to get on at the stations afterwards.

If you are in a rush take the more expensive Stansted train from London Liverpool Street which only takes 40 minutes. .

Though incredibly cheap to travel, delays do often happen and if you book, make sure you leave plenty of time to get to connecting flights. Watch the gates as it might change two or three times after check-in with no announcements.

City Airline - £99 return to Gothenburg Landvetter from London Gatwick Airport and Manchester Airport
http://www.cityairline.com/eng_docs/main.asp

British Midland - flights of around £125 return to Gothenburg Landvetter from London Heathrow
http://www.flybmi.com

Go - cheap flights to Copenhagen - you can take a three hour train to Gothenburg from there.
http://www.go-fly.com

Cheap fares between the European continent and London:
http://www.go-fly.com
http://www.ryanair.com
http://www.buzzaway.com
http://www.easyjet.com/en
http://www.travel-links-uk.co.uk/cat_f234565wsf/Air_Travel/airlines.htm

Rail

Swedish Railways - can be used for bookings (type in 'Goteborg', not Gothenburg!)
http://www.sj.se/node/0,4452,3367_1,FF.html

A useful cross-regional booking service permits you to look up timetables across Nordic countries
http://www.swedenbooking.com

If you arrive in Copenhagen or Stockholm, Gothenburg is only 3 hours by rail. If you arrive anywhere else in Europe, rail passes are a cheap option.

For USA/Canadian citizens: http://www.raileurope.com

For other citizens outside Europe: http://www.raileurope.com/us/search/index.htm

From UK: http://www.raileurope.co.uk

Ferry - Passenger lines
http://www.doyouwannatravel.com/html/ferry_europe_body.htm
http://www.directferry.com/schedules.asp
http://www.grijns.net/seatravel/ferries.html
http://www.ferry-site.dk

DFDS Seaways
http://www.dfdsseaways.com
Newcastle - Gothenburg
Kristiansand (Norway) - Gothenburg

DFDS Tor Line
http://www.dfdstorline.com/Infobridge
Immingham (Britain) - Gothenburg
Harwich (Britain) - Gothenburg
Newcastle/Kristiansand (Britain/Denmark) - Gothenburg
Ghent (Belgium) - Gothenburg

Stena Line
http://www.stenaline.de
Frederikshavn (Denmark) - Gothenburg
http://www7.stenaline.de

Kiel (Germany) - Gothenburg
http://www7.stenaline.de  

LOCATION

Gothenburg University
http://www.gu.se/English/default.html

For a guide to the city of Gothenburg:
http://cityguide.se/goteborg/en
http://www.goteborg.com/en
http://www.goteborg.se/prod/sk/goteborg.nsf/1/english

Guide to business region Gothenburg:
http://brg.iweb.nu/default.asp

Virtual Tourist in Gothenburg:
http://www12.virtualtourist.com/Europe/Sweden/Goteborg

Current weather conditions:
http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/ESGP.html

Accommodation in Gothenburg:
http://www.hotels-europe.com/sweden/goteborg.htm

International Book Fair, 19-22 September 2002:
http://www.bok-bibliotek.se/indexeng.htm

Information about Sweden in general
http://www.worldskip.com/region.asp?PartnerID=worldskip&RegionID=se

Burma Studies Conference website: http://www.therai.org.uk/anthcal/myanmarburma2002.html