Myanmar to launch Sightseeing Flight Tours without Landing

The chairman of Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association has announced on Friday (Dec 18) that Myanmar is all set to launch non-landing sightseeing flight tours this weekend.

While making the announcement, Mr. Naung Naung Han, the chairman of the association, has said that this is the first move to promote the domestic tourism industry across the country amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The sightseeing flight tours are organized to allow passengers to enjoy tourist sites across the country, while boarding a low altitude flight.

The first of its kind in Myanmar, the non-landing sightseeing flight tours will be introduced by the national flag carrier Myanmar National Airlines on this Sunday (Dec 20). The tours will last for 1 hour and 30 minutes and will fly from Yangon to Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda (a Buddhist pilgrimage site of Mon state), to Hpa-an of Kayin state and will come back to Yangon.

Mr. Naung Naung Han has also informed that the passengers will be permitted to board the flight after receiving a negative COVID-19 test and they do not need to be quarantined because tour flight will depart from and arrive at the same airport in Yangon.

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Domestic travel was prohibited by the government in September to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country and resumed on December 16 to ease restrictions with an aim to re-establish the industry.

At the same time, Myanmar’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on Tuesday (Dec 15) announced that the ministry is extending COVID-19 restrictive measures until end of the month. The ministry added that the extension applies to the temporary entry restrictions for all international travelers and temporary suspension of all types of visas including on-arrival visa, e-visa, social visit visa and visa exemption.

In regard to COVID-19 transmission in Myanmar, the Health and Sports Ministry said that the country has seen a resurgence of the infection in last few weeks.

Myanmar has reported a total number of 114,198 confirmed cases which are under treatment and 2,398 patients have lost their lives due to the virus. However, 92,916 patients who tested positive to COVID-19 have completely recovered from the virus, as of Saturday (Dec 19).