The Union of Myanmar Travel Association says travel
companies should be able to apply for government approved licenses to allow
them to sell international tours by the end of the year.
Official government controlled media quoted union general
secretary, U Naung Naung Han, as saying: “The licensing scheme will protect
customers and help to identify who is responsible if problems arise on a trip.”
None of Myanmar ’s
travel and tour companies hold outbound licenses to conduct overseas travel, he
said. “It is very important because if they are running without a license
consumers have no guarantee.”
“Once the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism issues outbound
licenses, travelers from Myanmar
who have trouble with their agency during a trip can legally prosecute them,
and also we, the UMTA, can officially resolve the problem.”
Licenses were not issued in the past because the government
ruled that Myanmar
nationals could not hold foreign currency. The government had indicated it will
reverse its rule on foreign exchange, but companies will need to abide by
regulations over insurance, fees and the license validity period, he cited. The regulations controlling registration of outbound travel
firms could be completed by year-end.
According to Ministry of Hotels and Tourism officials, Myanmar tourists are making more trips to
neighboring countries and Asia , than ever
before.
The number of Myanmar nationals travelling
overseas has reached over 380,000 a year since 2000. Most of them travelled to Thailand , Singapore ,
Malaysia , China , Hong Kong ,
Vietnam , Cambodia , South
Korea , Indonesia
and Japan .
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