Malaysia will no longer require entry visas for Indian nationals travelling to the country, from 1 December, according to a report by Bloomberg that quoted Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar stated during his People's Justice Party's annual congress on Sunday in Putrajaya that Indian nationals could enter the country without a visa for a maximum of 30 days. But he also said that Indian citizens would be screened for security.
As of now, Indian nationals can enter Malaysia by obtaining a visa upon arrival. RM 200 (Rs 3,558) was the total cost of an Indian citizen's Malaysian visa upon arrival, including the processing charge.
The prime minister announced that starting on December 1, Chinese nationals will also be able to enter without a visa, in addition to Indian citizens.
For economic growth, Malaysia is dependent on increased tourist arrivals and their expenditure. Anwar last month revealed his intentions to enhance visa requirements for travellers and investors, "particularly from India and China," in order to promote their arrival.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that starting on December 1, visitors from China and India will not need an entry visa to enter Malaysia.
Hong Kong requires Indian travellers to register prior to arrival.
At his People's Justice Party's annual conference in Putrajaya on Sunday, Anwar stated that Chinese and Indian nationals might enter the country without a visa for a maximum of 30 days. He said there will be security screening on this.
Similar to this, Sri Lanka and Thailand recently declared that visas are no longer required for Indian tourists, making travel easier. With effect from November 10, Indian tourists can now enter Thailand without a visa and enjoy a generous 30-day stay.
This beneficial policy is scheduled to expire on May 10 of the following year, though the Thai government has indicated that it may be extended if demand keeps increasing.
