THIRD-COUNTRY tourists meeting the prescribed requirements are now allowed to enter and leave Myanmar through the Tachilek-Mae Sai border checkpoint in eastern Shan State under package tour arrangements and travel along the Tachilek-Kengtung route, Deputy Minister for Immigration and Population U Ye Tun Oo said.
He made the remarks at the third Pyithu Hluttaw session on 21 September in response to a question about the resumption of foreign tourist visits to eastern Shan State.
The Tachilek border checkpoint, which was temporarily closed in 2020 due to COVID-19, reopened in 2023. However, entry and exit through the Tachilek Friendship Bridge I for third-country nationals were restricted from June 2023 as part of measures to prevent online scams in eastern and northern Shan State.
They were subsequently allowed to enter and leave only through international airports and the Kawthoung international checkpoint. Following a review by the Ministry of Culture, Hotels and Tourism, eligible third-country nationals have been allowed to use the Tachilek-Mae Sai checkpoint under package tour arrangements since World Tourism Day.
Except for restricted areas designated by the Ministry of Home Affairs, foreign tourists may travel along the Tachilek-Kengtung route. From October 2023 to date, 34 third-country nationals and 2,746 Thai nationals have entered under the arrangements. Thai nationals may enter and leave with passports and visas, while third-country nationals may do so under package tour arrangements in accordance with the prescribed procedures.
TWA/KNN
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