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Myanmar is now offering foreign visitors the chance to receive a visa on arrival at international airports in Mandalay and Naypyidaw. According to The Irawaddy, this service was only available at Yangon International Airport, the country’s main gateway.
One June 1, the country had announced that visitors from 31 countries could enter without prearranged visas. However, it is still no clear whether this applies to tourists as well as business travelers.
These new changes are in response to the growing number of tourists coming to Myanmar. Recent political reforms in the country, including the release of the iconic populist leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, may have led to a renewed interest in traveling to the region. In 2011 359,359 tourists arrived at Rangoon’s international airport and the number is expected to reach 1.5 million this year.
And while Myanmar is opening its doors to foreigners, according to US visa lawyers in Thailand the US only allows US visas on arrival for certain nationalities. Visitors and short term business travelers from Myanmar and Thailand, for example, do require a visa before entering the USA.
However, all visitors to the USA are subject to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) inspections as well as TSA searches. Many visitors to the USA have been critical of the intense scrutiny that the USA subjects its visitors to. While tourist numbers to Myanmar, are increasing, tourist numbers to the US are falling. Perhaps US policy makers can learn something from the Myanmar government.
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