VietNamNet Bridge – Travel enterprises expect that the visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders signed between Vietnam and Myanmar will help attract more Vietnamese tourists to the peer ASEAN nation in the future.

Under the agreement, citizens of both countries who hold ordinary passports valid for at least six months beyond the date of arrival will not require visas for stays up to 14 days. The decision will take effect from October 26.

The visa exemption will help local travelers save US$30 for visa application fees and save them the time-consuming process of waiting for visa procedures. Currently, visitors in HCMC have to send their passports to Hanoi for visa applications and wait for four to five days, the enterprises said.

The visa exemption will facilitate travel, investment and trade as Myanmar is the only nation in ASEAN that grants visas at the embassy in Hanoi City only, said Vo Anh Tai, general director of Saigontourist Travel Service Company.

Saigontourist has seen more local travelers heading to Myanmar. Last month, the enterprise sent three groups and the figure may increase when Myanmar’s rainy season is over.

Fiditour Company has also organized four or five trips to Myanmar every month. In early 2012, Fiditour signed a tourist exchange agreement with Myanmar Tourism Service Company to develop the market.

This has resulted in the number of tourists increasing by 20%. The market will rise further as local enterprises are keen to explore the new market while many others want to reach the country for pilgrimages or sightseeing.

Tu Quy Thanh, director of Lien Bang Travelink Company, said that the company organizes a trip to Myanmar every month, mainly for those who seek investment and business opportunities in the country. The visa exemption will encourage more tourists to visit Myanmar.

However, Thanh said tour prices to Myanmar are rather high compared to other regional countries, ranging from VND16-18 million for a five-day trip. There are only three direct flights between HCMC and Yangon per week, so many people in the city have to travel from HCMC to Hanoi City to fly to Yangon if they want to travel on other days.

Source: SGT