The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has extended restrictions on international flights and border crossings to June 15. The heavy restrictions, which barred almost all foreign visitors from entering the country by air or land, had been set to end of May 31. This is the second time the Ministry has postponed the lifting of the travel ban, which applies to all tourists and most business travelers. Myanmar nationals and those with certain diplomatic visas may still enter the country, however they must first obtain proof of good health from a doctor and are subject to quarantine measures upon arrival.

Meanwhile, domestic travel has slowly revived, with highway buses beginning to run and several domestic airlines resuming scheduled flights connecting Mandalay and Yangon with locations throughout the country. Air Thanlwin, Air KBZ, Golden Myanmar Airways, Myanmar National Airlines and Mann Yadanarpon Airlines are among the domestic carriers that have returned to the skies. Nevertheless, it stands to be an abysmal year for the formerly growing aviation industry. As China accounts for more visitors to Myanmar than any other country, COVID-19 has affected airlines, and the entire tourism sector, since it first began to spread within China in January. After nearly six months, the tourism sector has been decimated. A recent survey, conducted by the aid arm of Luxembourg, reported that more than 80 percent of SMEs in the tourism sector have been “extremely badly” affected.

At the time of writing, Myanmar has 232 confirmed COVID-19 cases and six deaths linked to the disease.