Singaporean travellers to Myanmar could surge 35% on visa exemption

Local travel agencies could bag over $20m from outbound travel to Myanmar.

Strong growth in outbound travel to Myanmar from Singapore as a result of the visa-free entry between the two countries can deliver more than $20 million in revenue for Singapore travel agencies, according to Myanmar Tourism Marketing.

"We have witnessed a surge of Singaporean travelers in recent years and look forward to this growing exponentially,” says MTM Chairperson May Myat Mon Win.

The number of Singaporean travellers to Myanmar is predicted to increase by 35 percent due to the 30-day visa exemption which came into force yesterday, 1st December.

In 2015, there were 43,000 Singaporeans who traveled to Myanmar. As of August 2016, more than 32,000 Singaporeans have visited the country, an increase of 18 percent compared to the same period last year.

“We estimate outbound travel would increase in double digits and the outlook for the coming year alone would deliver well over US$15 million (SG$20 million) in new revenue,” says MTM Chairperson May Myat Mon Win.