GOVERNMENT officials last week denied there had been delays or
changes to the process for issuing social, diplomatic or tourist
visas to enter Myanmar.
“We have not made any new policies or rules regarding
the processing of tourist visas. Tourists can apply for visas
as usual at Myanmar embassies around the world but they need to
make sure they are applying for the correct visa,” said
a spokesperson from the counsellor division of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw.
The official said the ministry has created a special Tripartite
Core Group (TCG) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take
care of the visa issuing process for international aid workers
coming to Myanmar to provide help for victims of cyclone Nargis.
“Visitors need to make sure they apply for the correct
visa because some enter on social visas and then take part in
unauthorised activity,” he said. “When they apply
for a visa, they must sign an agreement stating that they are
requesting the appropriate visa.”
According to government statistics, from May 5 to June 30 1670
foreigner aid workers entered the country on visas, including
1076 from the United Nations and other nongovernmental organisation,
498 from ASEAN and neighbouring countries to carry out healthcare
services for cyclone victims and 96 to attend the ASEAN-UN Pledging
Conference in May.
“We approved visas for more than 1670 international aid
workers to help victims of cyclone Nargis, with half of them directly
involved in relief operations in storm-hit regions,” the
ministry spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, he said visas on arrival will only be issued to people
on government-approved package tours.
“We never grant visas on arrival to individuals aside
from diplomats. But tour operators can arrange visas on arrival
by contacting the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs,” he said.
According to figures from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism,
tourist arrivals at Yangon International Airport from April 1
to June 22 totalled 15,204, a drop of 47.59 percent from the 29,007
arrivals during the same period last year.
