YANGON 30 April 2012: Business visas on arrivals will be introduced by Myanmar, 1 June, Union Minister for Immigration and Manpower, U Khin Yee, reported in a briefing to local press, yesterday, held at the Ministry of Industry in the capital, Naypyitaw.
The visa will be issued on arrival at Yangon Airport and cost US$40 with a 70-day validity.The country had a visa-on-arrival for certain nationalities in the tourism only category, but suspended it in 2010.
The facility was popular with tourists who were able to plan a trip to Myanmar on speck and get the visa-on-arrival at the airport. But it was only in place for six months and was suspended despite its popularity due to political reasons.
U Khin Yee said talks were on-going with travel agencies that should see the country follow with a tourist visas on arrival for ASEAN passport holders in the near future.It should not be confused with visa-free entry that is stipulated in the ASEAN charter.
Member countries are supposed to allow ASEAN citizens visa-free entry for up to 15 days. Only Myanmar and Cambodia have not complied with the charter. Cambodia charges all nationalities including ASEAN citizens for a visa on arrival at any of its airports and international border checkpoints.Myanmar’s decision to revive its visa-on-arrival for business visitors is viewed as a step in the right direction. However, to generate a boom in travel from ASEAN markets, a visa-free stay would be more effective.
