Myanmar Shuts Borders to Tourists After Deadly Earthquake

Sai Zaw Thaike

Myanmar’s military regime has suspended all tourist visa applications in the wake of a powerful earthquake that devastated large parts of the country late last month.

The 7.7-magnitude quake, which struck central Myanmar on 28 March, has left over 3,600 people dead and thousands more injured, according to official figures. More than 200 remain missing. In response, the junta has halted tourist entries as recovery efforts stretch thin across Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Sagaing, and southern Shan State.

The Ministry of Immigration and Population announced the visa suspension last week, citing “ongoing recovery efforts” and the extent of the damage. Business visas will still be processed, but all other travel for leisure is on hold indefinitely.

The move comes amid growing scrutiny over the junta’s handling of the crisis. Foreign journalists have been barred from entering affected areas, with military officials claiming that a lack of electricity, water, and shelter makes access impossible. However, human rights groups accuse the regime of using the disaster to further restrict press freedom and suppress independent reporting.

“It is not possible for foreign journalists to come, stay, find shelter, or move around here,” said junta spokesperson Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun in a state media broadcast, urging the international community to “understand” the decision.

Independent journalists, many working in secret from inside Myanmar or from across the Thai border, continue to report on the situation at great personal risk. The country’s track record on press freedom remains dire—journalist Sai Zaw Thaike was handed a 20-year prison sentence in 2023 for covering a cyclone’s aftermath.

International organisations have condemned the ongoing information blackout and called for unimpeded access for both aid workers and reporters. With entire communities displaced and infrastructure crippled, the absence of transparency has raised concerns over the true scale of the humanitarian crisis.

Travellers and tour operators are being urged to cancel or postpone any plans to visit Myanmar. Officials say updates will be provided once the situation stabilises, but with rescue operations still under way and communications patchy at best, there is no clear timeline for reopening.

For now, the country's famed temples and cultural landmarks remain off-limits, as Myanmar contends with disaster recovery amid deepening isolation.

-2025-04-09