Malaysia has become the third country, following Sri Lanka and Thailand, to announce visa-free entry for Indian tourists. Bharat and Vietnam are presently engaged in conversation to put up a similar system in place.
Alongside Bharat, Malaysia is additionally removing entry visa requirements for citizens of China.
Under the leadership of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, a significant policy change has been incorporated regarding entry visas for Chinese and Indian citizens.
These changes are said to be in force from December 1 for citizens of Bharat which will run for the entire length of the year till December 2024. This announcement was made during a speech at his People’s Justice Party’s Annual Congress in Putrajaya.
Potential changes for the Indian Travelers:
Visa Elimination: Indian citizens visiting Malaysia will no longer need entry visas starting from December 1.
Visa-Free Stay: Indian can stay in Malaysia for a period of up to 30 days without obtaining a visa.
Security Screening: While visa requirements are lifted, there will still be standard security screening for Indian nationals visiting Malaysia.
Significance of this Malaysian step:
Prime Minister Ibrahim had previously revealed plans to enhance visa facilities in the coming year to further encourage the inflow of tourists and investors, particularly from China and Bharat as they are crucial markets for Malaysia.
Their ranking for tourists arrivals stands at fourth and fifth place, respectively. Between January and June of 2023, Malaysia recorded a total of 9.16 million tourist arrivals, out of which Bharat contributed 283,885 during the same period, solidifying its position as a substantial source of tourists for Malaysia.
The government is hopeful that by the simplification of the entry process, it can attract more tourists and increase their spending within the country. Thereby, ensuring an increased contribution to Malaysia’s economic development.
From November 10, Thailand has removed the requirement for a visa for the citizens of Bharat, offering a generous 30-day stay. This policy is scheduled to remain in effect until May 10, 2024. However, the Thai Government appears affirmative on the possibility of an extension based on demand.
Sri Lanka has also adopted the visa-free entry initiative in October of 2023, for the influx of visitors from seven countries including Bharat, China and Russia. Launched as a pilot project, this initiative took immediate effect and extended a warm welcome until March 31, 2024.
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