The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has announced that it will issue Visas-on-Arrivals to travelers from a further six countries to boost the tourism industry. An article in The Irrawaddy said that the ministry is currently awaiting approval from the Union government. Once confirmed, the new visas will likely be available to travelers from Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Russia, Germany and Australia. “We will be able to confirm the list of the countries only after the Union government approves it,” U Aung Aye Han, deputy director general of the ministry was quoted as saying. “They will be the countries that have good ties with Myanmar, and are interested in visiting here”. The on-arrival visas are expected to cost USD 50 and allow visitors to stay in Myanmar for up to 30 days. Currently, Myanmar issues visas-on-arrival to citizens of all Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, except Malaysia, as well as Japan, South Korea, Macau, Hong Kong and China.