Burma to introduce electronic visa applications

Rangoon - Burma will introduce an electronic visa application system next month to facilitate visits to the once isolated state, news reports said Sunday.

"We are trying to introduce an e-visa system from March that would allow international visitors to apply for a visa from anywhere via the internet before visiting Myanmar," Tourism Minister Tint San told the Myanmar Times.

The liberalization of visa procedures is likely to facilitate another jump in tourist arrivals in 2012.

Total arrivals to Burma last year were 816,369, up 26 per cent from 791,505 tourist in 2010, according to government sources.

Tourism revenues amounted to 319 million dollars last year, compared with 254 million in 2010, she said.

Burma has introduced a series of reforms since March.//DPA