Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – You could say that foreigners in the Burmese travel industry like the country so much they want to stay–overstay that is.
The director general of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism says that some foreigners who work in the tourism industry and who quit their jobs are overstaying their visas. Hotels and tourism companies received an order dated May 4, issued by Htay Aung, the head of the directorate, telling companies they must inform the Rangoon Region Immigration Department whenever a foreign employee leaves his or her job.
‘In the past, some foreigners overstayed their visas so we need to be cautious’, Htay Aung told Mizzima. When asked how many foreigners overstayed, he declined to give a specific number.
When companies in the tourism industry want to hire a foreigner or when a foreigner needs to extend a visa, they must inform the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism and the deputy minister himself will check the documents, including determining if the foreigner has paid necessary taxes, according to the order. The order also tells employers to keep detailed records on foreigners who work in their companies.
On other issues, the directorate of the Ministry of Forestry in Naypyitaw issued an order dated February 23 that both local and foreign visitors who wish to visit nature reserve areas must first get the permission of a travel committee that has been formed to protect nature reserves.
