The Ministry of Immigration and Population under the SAC (State Administration Council) has declared that, commencing from the first day of a one-year probationary period, Chinese and Indian tourists arriving by air will be granted Tourist Visas on Arrival in accordance with COVID-19 prevention measures.
"Yes, that is correct. From August 30th, 2023, until August 2024, Chinese and Indian tourists will be eligible for Tourist Visas on Arrival. We have already issued the announcement," stated one of the senior officers closely associated with the Ministry to NP News.
The Ministerial Department has notified that tourists from China and India can fill out the respective form by attaching two photos on their arrival at the airport without any charge for the form.
However, the Tourist Visa on Arrival will give coverage only for tourists, and the charges for Tourist Visa on Arrival will be collected in USD.
Tourists traveling to Myanmar from India and China must ensure that their passports have a minimum of six months of validity. If the passport's validity is less than six months, entry into the country will not be permitted, and individuals will be required to return to their respective nations on the same airplane they arrived on.
Additionally, tourists holding Tourist Visas on Arrival must adhere to the laws and regulations of the host country, and they are permitted to explore the country freely, except for restricted areas for security reasons.
Furthermore, tourists with Tourist Visas on Arrival are free to depart the country from any international border gate using their preferred means of transportation.
The SAC has recently announced that in the near future, there is a potential for a significant influx of Chinese tourists into the country. Therefore, SAC emphasized the importance of making the necessary preparations for this upcoming tourism season.
The Myanmar tourism industry is anticipated to make a recovery and aims for improved results, as it has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic since 2020.