MOTAC minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing expressed hope for the increase in tourist numbers, especially after the PM’s announcement on visa exemptions for tourists from China and India beginning Dec 1. Photo: BERNAMA
Malaysia recorded 26 million international tourist arrivals so far, according to the latest statistics from the Immigration Department between January 1 and November 15 this year, as reported by Bernama.
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing expressed his hope that the tourist numbers will increase, especially after the announcement by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim that the government will implement visa exemptions on tourist arrivals from China and India beginning December 1.
“So we hope that we can increase the number of international tourists, especially after the prime minister announced visa exemptions for China and India for 30 days starting December 1,” Tiong said to the media after the Malaysia Batik Day Celebration walkabout session at the Kuala Lumpur craft complex here today.
The breakdown of the statistics saw Singapore topping the list with 12,645,364 tourists, ahead of Indonesia (3,166,295), Thailand (2,073,162), China (1,407,471), Brunei (904,841), and India (780,532), making Malaysia the top tourism destination in Southeast Asia.
The home ministry has also launched a new visa liberalization plan in an effort to boost the tourism industry in Malaysia. Aside from the visa exemptions announced by Anwar, the visa liberalization plan also includes multiple-entry visa (MEV) for all tourists, long-term social visit passes for international students from selected countries that will allow them to study, travel and work part-time in certain sectors, as well as the introduction of the seven-day umrah transit visa.
Other initiatives also include improving the validity period of visas issued by Malaysia from the current three months to six months, and standardizing the eligibility period for social visit passes to a minimum of 30 days for all countries that require visas to enter the country.
