Travellers are facing difficulties to buy airline tickets from Myanmar-Thailand airlines due to the large number of Myanmar travellers planned to visit Thailand during the New Year holidays, and all flight tickets of Economy Class have been sold, according to airline ticket sales agents.
"For Christmas and New Year, most Myanmar people go to Thailand and Singapore. Now, more people are traveling after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. Apart from Bangkok in Thailand, they often go to Chiang Mai. Now, due to many trips to Thailand, all economy class flight tickets between Myanmar and Thailand have been sold out. If you buy now, you won't be able to buy any more," said an official from a plane ticket sales company in Yangon.
According to some tourism operators in Thailand, Myanmar nationals are among the tourists who are allowed to stay for up to 45 days without a visa.
Starting from October 2022, visa free period for foreigners entering Thailand is extended from 30 to 45 days.
While the Thai government gave 30 days of visa-exemption to foreigners entering the country, Myanmar citizens were given only 14 days and allowed to stay for 60 days with a tourist visa.
Despite this announcement, some Myanmar nationals are only getting 14-day visa period for traveling to Thailand, and they received 45-day visa period starting from the last week of October.
"Myanmar citizens who come with a visa exemption must have a visa valid for 45 days, but when they actually arrive, they don't get 45-day visa free period. Most of them have 14-days visa free period. Since mid-October, we have seen that travelers from Myanmar who get 45-day visa free period," said a woman who works in the tourism business in Thailand.
It has been reported that Myanmar National Airlines (MNA) will fly Yangon-Chiang Mai flight twice a week starting December 9.
During the December tourist season, the airline will fly twice a week on Fridays and Sundays for passengers visiting Chiang Mai, Thailand.
It has been reported that the MNA is offering full service one-way Yangon-Bangkok tickets starting at US$40 as a New Year special price.
The airline is flying flights from Yangon to Kawthoung and Lashio, and the date and time of the flight will be available on www.flymna.com in real time.
