Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia disclosed plans for extended visa-free entry during the 2023 People’s Justice Party (PKR) National Congress, as reported by Malay Mail. Effective December 1, India and China will grant a 30-day visa-free entry into Malaysia, contingent upon security screenings for prior criminal records.
“Starting December 1, we’ll extend an additional 30-day visa exemption to Arab countries, Turkey, Jordan, and citizens of China and India to visit Malaysia,” Ibrahim declared, clarifying that Turkey and Jordan already enjoyed this privilege, now extended to Indian and Chinese nationals. He highlighted the significance of regional tourism from neighboring ASEAN nations like Singapore and Indonesia.
Malaysia’s initiative is similar to those of Sri Lanka and Thailand. According to Foreign Affairs Minister Ali Sabry, Sri Lanka offers visa-free entry to visitors from seven countries, including India, China, and Russia, as part of a pilot project. This initiative, which has been approved by the Sri Lankan Cabinet, will run until March 31, 2024.
Sabry confirmed the Cabinet’s decision to provide free visas to India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand as a pilot project through March 31.
In a parallel move, Thailand stated visa-free entry for Indian tourists for six months beginning November 10, following the Cabinet’s decision to exempt Indian and Taiwanese tourists from entry visas for up to 30 days beginning May 10, 2024, according to Thai PBN World.
Addressing challenges, including a decline in Chinese tourist arrivals, the Thai Cabinet extended similar visa exemptions to tourists from China and Kazakhstan for a specific period, aiming to revitalize tourism in the last quarter of the year, reported Thai PBN World.
Thai PBN World’s data for the first nine months of this year indicated approximately 1.26 million Indian tourists visited Thailand, projected to rise to 1.55 million by year-end. On average, Indian tourists spend 41,000 baht per person during their 7-8-day stay in Thailand, contributing to the country’s tourism economy.