ANGON, 27 August 2013: Myanmar says the country will allow visitors
to pass through four Thai-Myanmar border checkpoints and exit through
any authorised checkpoint, effective Wednesday.
The four overland checkpoints include Tachileik-Mae Sai, Myawady-Mae Sot, Kawthaung-Ranong and Htee Khee-Sunaron.
Up until now, the visitor had to return via the same checkpoints and
Myanmar’s immigration officials at the overland checkpoints confiscated
passports to ensure that happened.
The new rule allows visitors to enter at one checkpoint and exit at another authorised checkpoint.
Local media quoted an Immigration and National Registration
Department of Myawady District official as saying: “We have received
instructions to allow Thai citizens and foreign tourists to pass through
all four border checkpoints effective 28 August.”
“Also, Myanmar citizens with visas and passports will also be allowed to visit Thailand using these border crossings,” he said.
Fines will be imposed if visitors overstay, or the visa has expired,
in a similar fashion to Thai immigration officials who fine by the day.
Foreign visitors using any of the authorised border checkpoints to
enter Myanmar can depart through other approved land checkpoints or via
Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw, and Mandalay airports.
The government has amended its list of restricted areas after an
improvement in the rule of law and stability in the country. According
to the Ministry of Information, visitors can go anywhere except where
there are security concerns and depart from any exit point recognised by
the government.
The Mae Sai-Tachileik checkpoint has the most potential for
international visitors, who are touring North Thailand and want to
continue their Mekong Region holiday in Myanmar. They will be able to
use Chiang Rai as the gateway to travel to Mandalay and Bagan, using
airlines flying out of Tachilek.
Mae Sai is around 80 km north of Chiang Rai and visitors are allowed
to cross the border, but up until now had to return to the same point.
The new facility was supposed to be introduced the first week of
August, but was delayed due to flooding in some border provinces.
The country forecasts it will welcome 1.8 million foreign tourists by
year end. The government projects 7.5 million tourists by 2020.
Tourism in Myanmar has showed a positive sign since 2011. Last year,
1.06 million tourists visited the country, an increase of around 30%.
The country has about 30,000 hotel rooms. Another 10,000 more rooms
will be ready by the end of this year across the country, although the
main concentration of new rooms will be in Yangon initially to serve
business travellers.
source: TTR Weekly
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