Myanmar will resume international passenger flights starting April 17, the military said Saturday, lifting a two-year ban on foreign tourists.
In a statement it said the decision was made “in order to improve the tourism business sector, and in order to have smooth trip for visitors who come to visit Myanmar”.
Visitors must be fully vaccinated and will be required to quarantine for a week undergoing two PCR tests, according to the health ministry.
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However, foreign tourists have been urged to avoid visiting due to the ongoing rights abuses and violence including kidnappings and killings by the military, as well as food shortages.
“I would not suggest anyone travels there,” said Michael Isherwood, chair of the Burma Humanitarian Mission and program director of charity Backpack Medics.
“If Burma reopens to tourists, it’s primarily to benefit the junta.”
The US State Department has given Myanmar a level 4 travel advisory, warning its citizens to not visit the country “due to COVID-19 as well as areas of civil unrest and armed conflict.”
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The UK government currently “advises against all but essential travel to Myanmar”, stating the risk of being arbitrarily detained or arrested.
Myanmar first closed the country in March 2022 to international tourists to tackle a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Since February 2021, when a military coup swept aside the country’s legitimate government, Myanmar has descended into chaos and civil unrest, which has seen more than 1,600 civilians killed and an estimated 11,000 arrested and imprisoned.
Resistance groups emerged and since then the south-east Asian country has been racked with violence and economic collapse.
UN high commissioner Michelle Bachelet said last month, Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis continues to expand amid systematic brutality by security forces.
“The economy is on the brink of collapse. Over 14.4 million individuals are now assessed as being in humanitarian need,” she said, predicting that “food scarcity will sharply increase over the coming months”.
It is unclear which airlines will serve Yangon’s international airport that is currently open only to repatriation flights for Myanmar citizens and those entering the country on official business with the junta.
