YANGON: Myanmar received over 4.36 million foreign visitors in 2019, said the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has announced.
Tourist arrivals of 2019 increased by 23%, compared to the same period of the year 2018 when over 3.55 million foreign travellers arrived in Myanmar, the ministry said.
The ministry recently announced granting visa-on-arrivals to ordinary passport holders from Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg and New Zealand, who will enter Myanmar through Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyitaw international airports, for a three-year probation period until Dec. 31,2022.
Also, visa-exemption days were extended to 30 days for Vietnamese tourists in Myanmar starting from the first day of this month.
Meanwhile, the visa exemption pilot program for visitors from Japan, South Korea and China has been recently extended until Sept 30 this year.
Foreign travellers visit Myanmar mainly through three international airports -- Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw, the border gates as well as via luxury cruise liners. Enditem
IN another matter, Myanmar logged 957 drug-related cases, which involved 1,480 suspects within two years, state-run media reported quoting a release from the President Office.
As of Jan 25 this year, the authorities have seized over 7.49 kg of heroin, 1.34 kg of methamphetamine (ICE), 40.3 kg of opium, 462,707 stimulants tablets and other drugs, respectively, since the formation of the Drug Activity Special Complaint Department on June 26,2018.
The authorities are stepping up efforts to fight against drug trafficking and urge the public to directly inform drug trafficking-related cases to the department as well as the Home Affairs Ministry and relevant region and state governments, the release said. - Xinhua/Asian News Network
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