As of January 1 next year, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism will issue visas on arrival to tourists from five countries including Hungary and the Chez Republic. 

The countries are Hungary, the Chez Republic, Austria, Luxembourg, and New Zealand. The trial period for the issuance of visa on arrivals is three years. The visa fee will be 50 US dollars. The tourists can stay in Myanmar for one month. 

Daw Sabei Aung from Nature Dream Tourism Company said: “When our country is facing mounting international pressures, the extension of visa on arrivals is a good response. It will be better if the country issues visa on arrival for other countries. It is a good move for the year 2020. The ministry should grant visa on arrivals to 20 additional countries. In addition, the ministry should allow visa-free for the countries which have a better relationship with our country.”

Myanmar started allowing visa on arrivals to tourists from China, India, Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and Russia. 

Thanks to it, the number of Chinese tourist arrivals increased to over 150 per cent. The number of tourists from Japan, South Korea, and Russia also increased.

“The number of Russian tourists has increased by five per cent though Russia’s economy is declining,” Daw Sabei Aung added. 

Myanmar has issued visa on arrival to tourists from 55 countries. During the three-year tenure of the current government, Myanmar allowed 398,214 tourists with visa on arrival and collected a visa fee of 19,271,330 US dollars, according to the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population.