Monday, May 7, 2012

Burma to grant visa-on-arrival, business visas in June

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Monday, 07 May 2012 13:41 Mizzima News

(Mizzima) – Burma will issue visas-on-arrival and business visas starting June 1 to accommodate businessmen and foreign travelers, local media reported on Friday

The visa-on-arrival was withdran in September 2010 ahead of Burma’s general election in November 2011.

Rangoon International Airport Photo: Mizzima

Business visa priority will be given to citizens of countries which do business with Myanmar while the visa-on-arrival will be provided to travelers from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), said the Yangon Times.

According to official statistics, the number of tourists arrival at Burma’s Yangon International Airport alone reached 359,359 in 2011. The figure is expected to reach 1.5 million in 2012 for the gateway.

Other statistics by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism showed that arrivals at all entry points totaled over 800,000 in 2011, up more than 24,000 or 3 per cent from over 790,000 in 2010.

The figures for the two months of January and February 2012 represented 98,486, according to the Myanmar Tourism Promotion Board.

Meanwhile, as of February 2012, hotels in Burma numbered 739 including 22 foreign-invested hotels, four joint-venture hotels, six government hotels and 707 privatelyowned hotels.

Burma earned US$ 319 million in 2011 from the hotel and tourism sector, up 26 per cent from $254 million in 2010.

The tourism sector is expected to increase rapidly as sanctions are being withdrawn by most nations.

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