A limited visa-on-arrival program aimed at easing business travelers
entry into Burma will kick off on Friday, said Burmese officials.
Originally, it was believed to include tourists, but Immigration Department Director-General Maung Maung Than told the Associated Press on Monday that tourists will not be included in the on-arrival program.
The visas will cost $50 and not be available for tourists. He said the visas will be available to nationals of 27 countries including the U.K. and the U.S.
Maung Maung Than said the government has also updated a "blacklist" to bar people who violated visa agreements, criminals and people banned by government ministries.
Critics of military rule often were banned from entering the country. Observers who noted the new blacklist questioned why such a list would exist now that the government has said it is moving toward a democratic system.
Myanmar introduced visas-on-arrival in 2010 but suspended the service before that year's general election.
The service will first be available at the country's main entry point, Rangoon International Airport, and later in Mandalay and the capital, Naypyitaw.
The visas will be granted to travelers from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Australia, Britain, China, Japan and the United Statesl and other countries.
Business visas will be issued for 70 days, officials said.
This week Mizzima reported that about 1,500 tourists are arriving each day in Burma’s four international airports, an increase of about one-third over the past year. Tourists mainly passed through Rangoon, Naypyitaw, Mandalay and Nyaung Oo international airports.
Burma’s tourism industry is in an emerging growth stage. According to official statistics, the number of tourist arrivals at Rangoon International Airport reached 359,359 in 2011, but is expected to reach 1.5 million in 2012.
The hotel and guesthouse industry is straining to prepare for the influx of tourists and businessmen following the opening up of the country during 2011.
Figures for the first two months of 2012 showed 98,486 people arrived from North America, West Europe, East Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, according to the Myanmar Tourism Promotion Board.
There are a total of 739 hotels in Burma including 22 foreign-invested hotels, four joint-venture hotels, six government hotels and 707 private-owned hotels.
Burma earned US$ 319 million in 2011 from the hotel and tourism sector, up 26 per cent from US$ 254 million in 2010.
Originally, it was believed to include tourists, but Immigration Department Director-General Maung Maung Than told the Associated Press on Monday that tourists will not be included in the on-arrival program.
The visas will cost $50 and not be available for tourists. He said the visas will be available to nationals of 27 countries including the U.K. and the U.S.
Maung Maung Than said the government has also updated a "blacklist" to bar people who violated visa agreements, criminals and people banned by government ministries.
Critics of military rule often were banned from entering the country. Observers who noted the new blacklist questioned why such a list would exist now that the government has said it is moving toward a democratic system.
Myanmar introduced visas-on-arrival in 2010 but suspended the service before that year's general election.
The service will first be available at the country's main entry point, Rangoon International Airport, and later in Mandalay and the capital, Naypyitaw.
The visas will be granted to travelers from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus Australia, Britain, China, Japan and the United Statesl and other countries.
Business visas will be issued for 70 days, officials said.
This week Mizzima reported that about 1,500 tourists are arriving each day in Burma’s four international airports, an increase of about one-third over the past year. Tourists mainly passed through Rangoon, Naypyitaw, Mandalay and Nyaung Oo international airports.
Burma’s tourism industry is in an emerging growth stage. According to official statistics, the number of tourist arrivals at Rangoon International Airport reached 359,359 in 2011, but is expected to reach 1.5 million in 2012.
The hotel and guesthouse industry is straining to prepare for the influx of tourists and businessmen following the opening up of the country during 2011.
Figures for the first two months of 2012 showed 98,486 people arrived from North America, West Europe, East Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, according to the Myanmar Tourism Promotion Board.
There are a total of 739 hotels in Burma including 22 foreign-invested hotels, four joint-venture hotels, six government hotels and 707 private-owned hotels.
Burma earned US$ 319 million in 2011 from the hotel and tourism sector, up 26 per cent from US$ 254 million in 2010.
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