Myanmar coordinates with China for opening border gates to int'l visitors

Myanmar's immigration authorities is coordinating with its Chinese counterpart to open Muse (Myanmar) -Ruili (China) border gates to international visitors for entry and exit by October, local daily 7-Day News reported Thursday.

Valid passport and visa holders will be allowed to enter Myanmar through the Muse gate and exit through Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw international airports, the authorities was quoted as saying.

Entry visa can be extended during the stay in Myanmar, Xinhua reported.

The planned opening of Muse as international entry and exit gates followed similar move on Aug. 28 with four entry and exit gates on the Myanmar-Thai border, namely Tachileik-Maesai, Myawaddy-Maesot, Tiki-Sunarong and Kawthoung-Ranong.

Myanmar grants different categories of visa, namely Entry Visa, Diplomatic Visa, Gratis Official Courtesy Visa, Tourist Visa, Business visa, Transit Visa and Multiple Journey Special Re-entry Visa.

In 2012, the number of tourist arrival reached 1.02 million, an increase of 200,000 compared with 820,000 in 2011 due to significant changes in Myanmar during the year.

Myanmar targets 2 million visitors in 2013 and up to 3 million in 2014.

It is assumed that many foreign visitors would visit Myanmar to attend the 27th Southeast Asian Games at the end of this year and the ASEAN Summit and other related meetings next year.

Moreover, Myanmar authorities have also granted visa-on-arrival for visitors from 48 countries.

Foreign investment in the hotel and tourist sector amounted to 1.585 billion U.S. dollars, standing the fifth in sectoral foreign investment in the country as of July 2013, according to official statistics.