INDIAN airlines have been given the green light to commence the first direct flights to Myanmar, effective immediately.
Following a series of bilateral talks at World Economic Forum on East
Asia 2013 in Naypyidaw last week, Indian commerce and industry
minister, Anand Sharma, said Myanmar had granted India’s airlines the
right to run services between the two countries.
There are currently no direct flights between India and Myanmar.
So far, SpiceJet has applied for flying rights to connect New Delhi to Yangon, via Dhaka.
Khin Zaw Nichols, managing director, Yangon-based Tour Mandalay,
said: “Myanmar is returning to a stable and prominent position vis-a-vis
other South-east Asian countries. Opening up connectivity will not only
add revenue from tourism and trade, but also open up mutual learning
processes and cooperation.”
Seema Ahmed, general manager, Kolkata-based Gainwell Travel &
Leisure, said: “Tourism will certainly increase manifold (with the
commencement of flights). We expect flights from Kolkata to Yangon to
start soon too, as there is trade between these two cities and Kolkata
is the nearest gateway for Buddhist pilgrims visiting India.”
India is the 13th largest source market for Myanmar,
sending 16,868 arrivals in 2012, a 2.8 per cent year-on-year increase.
Myanmar offers visas on arrival for Indian business travellers.
Meanwhile, progress on the 1,368km trilateral highway spanning
Manipur, India to Mae Sot, Thailand through Myanmar, has reached the
halfway mark. Construction began in 2010 and the highway is expected to
be operational by 2016.
source: TTG Asia
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