Singapore agents elated as Myanmar grants visa-free access

yangon-myanmar

AGENTS in Singapore are sanguine about the prospects visa exemption between Singapore and Myanmar can bring.

Most noteworthy is the avoidance of cumbersome visa application procedures which can take up to half a day to complete, according to Magdeline Yeo, ticketing manager at Stamford Travel.

She said: “This is good news. The current process is very complicated as you need to make appointment dates online then head down (to the embassy) physically to get the visa done.” Walk-ins are also not accepted, she added.

Concurring, Alicia Seah, spokesperson at Dynasty Travel, said: “Travellers currently need three to five working days for visa application. Now they can choose to make last-minute travel plans to visit Myanmar and even save about S$50 (US$37) in application fees per person. This will mean more flexibility and ease in processes to visit Myanmar.”

Visa-free access for citizens of both countries will come into effect December 1 for stays of up to 30 days.

It is too early to speculate on sales, but agents are positive outbound travel to Myanmar will only improve when taking into account other factors.

“There are high expectations with reform and foreign investment (flowing into Myanmar), and with new infrastructure such as airports being built,” said Seah.

“We foresee that many will venture beyond Yangon, the capital city, and visit other cities such as Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Lake to experience its history, geography, culinary arts and culture.”

Added Yeo: “(It is too early to tell) but with the visa exemption, more people might head to Myanmar as we’ve seen with Vietnam. More travellers might head there because Myanmar is looking at increasing flight frequencies as well.”

Seah is also worried about overcrowding and the lack of sufficient infrastructure to support the expected surge in travellers to Myanmar, which is poised to double in volume every year for the next few years, seemingly buoyed by strong corporate demand.

“Currently, there are more corporate travellers into Myanmar compared to leisure in view of the lack of publicity of the destination and also the cost of travel packages averaging between S$1200 to S$2600 depending on days of visit and if domestic flights are included,” she explained.

“Compared to other regional cities, the price to travel to Myanmar is more expensive. This is in view that the land costs such as hotels are more expensive.”

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