Lone Rider
Blokes Who Can
It looks like that Myanmar is really opening up and may give Thailand a run for the tourist dollars. Three sources, all quoting the "New Light of Myanmar" (a Government owned newspaper) indicate that 3 border openings will be open for Thai as well as Foreign tourists. The border crossings are: Mae Sai - Tachilek, Mae Sot - Myawaddy and Ranong - Kawthoung under a Myanmar-Thai Border Crossing Agreement, said the New Light of Myanmar. It looks like that you can travel overland, enter at 1 point and leave at another point which would be very good news indeed.
This from hearsay only as mentioned by SeaVisionBurma on Thai Visa: In terms of the overland travel though - for the time being people will still need to have an embassy issued visa already in their passport. A border entry visa won't allow travel overland. This is set to change in the coming year. My sources tell me that by early 2014 they are planning to issue visas at the borders. Nothing concrete at this stage though, so stay tuned.
I
View attachment 19596
View of Tachilek town (source: DVB)
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Foreigners entering Burma through three major border checkpoints along the Thai border can now travel inland and will not be required to exit the country through the same portal, in accordance with a new regulation passed by Burmese immigration authorities. According to the new rule, foreign travellers who pass through border checkpoints at Shan state's Tachilek, Karen state's Myawaddy and Tenasserim division's Kawthaung towns will be able to travel inland freely, except in restricted areas, and leave from their desired point of departure.
During a press conference at the immigration office in Kawthaung last Thursday, government officials met with representatives from tourism companies and businesspersons to expound on the parameters of the new regulation, said Moe Ei, a reporter from Tenasserim Weekly News Journal who attended the meeting. "The town's immigration director San Lwin explained that under the new regulation, foreigners who come in from the three main checkpoints will be allowed to leave from anywhere," said Moe Ei.
The immigration director also discussed a future plan to expand tourism in the border town, which included opening more hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, souvenir shops, and provide training to tour companies in order to meet the demands of travellers visiting the country.
With the area limitation removed, tourists who enter through the Kawthaung crossing can now visit the area's renowned hot springs, which was previously off limits due to its distance from the border. Border crossing and visa fees at the respective checkpoints will remain the same despite the change in regulations. A foreigner who through enters Burma through the three major Thai-border crossings must pay US$10 for a week's stay in the country.
Source: Immigration officials relax restrictions for tourists travelling overland | DVB Multimedia Group
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YANGON, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Three Myanmar-Thai border check points will be open to Thai nationals and other foreign visitors for entry and exit as of August, aimed at providing better service to the visitors holding passport and Myanmar entry visa, official media reported Monday. The three gates are designated as Tachileik-Mae Sai, Myawady- Mae Sot and Kawthoung-Ranong under a Myanmar-Thai Border Crossing Agreement, said the New Light of Myanmar.
Visitors will be allowed to visit any place except restricted areas under security reason and to depart from any official exits, the Ministry of Home Affairs was quoted as saying. Categories of visa granted for tourists include Entry Visa, Diplomatic Visa, Gratis Official Courtesy Visa, Tourist Visa, Business visa, Transit Visa and Multiple Journey Special Re-entry Visa. The move would help create greater job opportunities for trading, tourism and hospitality sectors, the report said. In 2012, the number of tourist arrival reached over 1 million, according to Myanmar Tourism Statistics.
Source: 3 Myanmar-Thai border check points to open to foreign visitors for entry, exit -- Shanghai Daily | ???? -- English Window to China New
This from hearsay only as mentioned by SeaVisionBurma on Thai Visa: In terms of the overland travel though - for the time being people will still need to have an embassy issued visa already in their passport. A border entry visa won't allow travel overland. This is set to change in the coming year. My sources tell me that by early 2014 they are planning to issue visas at the borders. Nothing concrete at this stage though, so stay tuned.
I
View attachment 19596
View of Tachilek town (source: DVB)
=========================================
Foreigners entering Burma through three major border checkpoints along the Thai border can now travel inland and will not be required to exit the country through the same portal, in accordance with a new regulation passed by Burmese immigration authorities. According to the new rule, foreign travellers who pass through border checkpoints at Shan state's Tachilek, Karen state's Myawaddy and Tenasserim division's Kawthaung towns will be able to travel inland freely, except in restricted areas, and leave from their desired point of departure.
During a press conference at the immigration office in Kawthaung last Thursday, government officials met with representatives from tourism companies and businesspersons to expound on the parameters of the new regulation, said Moe Ei, a reporter from Tenasserim Weekly News Journal who attended the meeting. "The town's immigration director San Lwin explained that under the new regulation, foreigners who come in from the three main checkpoints will be allowed to leave from anywhere," said Moe Ei.
The immigration director also discussed a future plan to expand tourism in the border town, which included opening more hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, souvenir shops, and provide training to tour companies in order to meet the demands of travellers visiting the country.
With the area limitation removed, tourists who enter through the Kawthaung crossing can now visit the area's renowned hot springs, which was previously off limits due to its distance from the border. Border crossing and visa fees at the respective checkpoints will remain the same despite the change in regulations. A foreigner who through enters Burma through the three major Thai-border crossings must pay US$10 for a week's stay in the country.
Source: Immigration officials relax restrictions for tourists travelling overland | DVB Multimedia Group
===================================================
YANGON, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Three Myanmar-Thai border check points will be open to Thai nationals and other foreign visitors for entry and exit as of August, aimed at providing better service to the visitors holding passport and Myanmar entry visa, official media reported Monday. The three gates are designated as Tachileik-Mae Sai, Myawady- Mae Sot and Kawthoung-Ranong under a Myanmar-Thai Border Crossing Agreement, said the New Light of Myanmar.
Visitors will be allowed to visit any place except restricted areas under security reason and to depart from any official exits, the Ministry of Home Affairs was quoted as saying. Categories of visa granted for tourists include Entry Visa, Diplomatic Visa, Gratis Official Courtesy Visa, Tourist Visa, Business visa, Transit Visa and Multiple Journey Special Re-entry Visa. The move would help create greater job opportunities for trading, tourism and hospitality sectors, the report said. In 2012, the number of tourist arrival reached over 1 million, according to Myanmar Tourism Statistics.
Source: 3 Myanmar-Thai border check points to open to foreign visitors for entry, exit -- Shanghai Daily | ???? -- English Window to China New
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