Since the 1st of October Myanmar (ex.Burma) has granted visitors from six more countries visas upon arrival: Australia, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain and Switzerland, making visiting this once closed-off country easier than ever on a luxury yacht charter.
Photo © www.tourismmyanmar.org
Passport holders of the aforementioned countries do not need to make visa pre-arrangements, and visitors or the superyacht agent can apply for a visa for a fee of $50 USD per person.
The Myanmar Government has also introduced new regulations to facilitate the ease of superyachts arriving at the breath-taking shores surrounding the country. The Mergui Archipelago is home to 800 islands, lagoons, atolls and coral reefs which were off-limits to visitors for decades. Now, access is granted to the islands in limited sustainable numbers.
“We hope the new regulation will lead to more foreign travellers to Myanmar, to discover the country’s unique culture and most of all, the hospitality of its people,” said May Myat Mon Win, Chairperson of Myanmar Tourism Marketing.
Last year Myanmar granted free via entry to visitors from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Macau, while Indian and mainland Chinese nationals were granted visa-upon-entry.
Thailand to the south already attracts luxury yacht charter groups and private vessels over the yachting season running from November to April, and Phuket is often used as a launching pad into Myanmar to the north. The Mergui Archipelago is best visited from December to March when temperatures are warm and the sea and wind conditions remain calm, creating excellent conditions for snorkelling and Scuba diving.
