India and Myanmar are set to ease visa norms for land border crossing at Moreh in Manipur, India, and Tamu in Myanmar. This initiative is expected to significantly enhance connectivity between the northeastern states of India and Myanmar, thereby boosting trade ties and tourism. It’s essential to note that these two nations share a considerable unfenced border of 1,643 km, involving four Indian states – Arunachal Pradesh (520 km), Nagaland (215 km), Manipur (398 km), and Mizoram (510 km).
The Unique Free Movement Regime (FMR)
The Free Movement Regime (FMR) is an exceptional arrangement that exists between India and Myanmar. This regime allows tribes living along the border to travel 16-km across the boundary without necessitating visa formalities. FMR acts as a bridge for these tribes to maintain their age-old ties across the border.
As of now, Indian citizens who wish to travel to Myanmar are required to apply for a permit. This process typically takes between 20 to 30 days. Moreover, if choosing land travel, Indians have to bear an extra cost of $40 for a tour guide, on top of the visa fees.
New Norms to Facilitate Land Travel
The new norms proposed by both India and Myanmar aim to eliminate the need for a permit for land travel. This revision is anticipated to provide much-needed convenience for both tourists and business travellers intending to use the land route for their journey. By reducing the bureaucratic red-tape, the journey becomes more accessible and less time-consuming.
Boosting Trade and Medical Tourism
The relaxed visa norms will not only foster tourism but are also likely to give a significant impetus to trade relations between Northeast India and Myanmar. With improved connectivity, the movement of goods and services across the border is bound to enhance, thus strengthening the economic ties between the two regions.
Apart from this, Manipur stands to gain considerably from this move in terms of medical tourism. With easy access across the border, patients from Myanmar may opt for treatment in the super-speciality hospitals available in the state of Manipur. This influx could provide a much-needed boost to the healthcare sector in the region.
