Malaysia will allow visa-free entry to Indian nationals from 1 December: In a move to facilitate Indian travelers, Thailand and Sri Lanka recently announced visa waivers.
Thailand has eliminated the requirement for a visa for Indian travelers effective November 10, giving a 30-day stay until May 10, 2024. Still, the Thai government has suggested an extension if demand continues to rise.
In October, Sri Lanka joined the visa-free initiative, which was launched as a pilot project and became effective immediately, welcoming visitors until March 31, 2024.
Similarly, Malaysia also announced visa-free entry, which we will discuss in the upcoming paragraphs.
Malaysia Will Allow Visa-Free Entry to Indian Nationals From 1 December
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that beginning December 1, the country will scrap entry visa requirements for Indian nationals visiting the nation.
On Sunday, Anwar said in a speech at his People’s Justice Party’s annual congress in Putrajaya that Indian nationals may stay visa-free for up to 30 days. However, Indian citizens would be subject to security screening, he added.
According to Anwar, Malaysia will conduct initial screenings for all visitors and tourists, and those with criminal records or terrorism risks will not be allowed to enter.
So far, Indians have been able to enter Malaysia with a visa on arrival. The cost of the visa, including the processing fee, is RM 200 (Rs 3,558).
The agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia said that currently, Batik Air, Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, and IndiGo offer 158 flights with 30,032 seats weekly between India and Malaysia.
The prime minister said that beginning December 1, Chinese nationals will also be allowed visa-free entry.
Malaysia hopes to boost economic growth through increased tourist arrivals and spending. In a recent announcement, Anwar revealed plans to enhance visa facilities next year to encourage more tourists and investors, mainly from India and China, to visit Malaysia.
According to Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia will scrap entry visa requirements for nationals from India and China visiting the nation beginning December 1.
He said residents of India and China may stay visa-free for up to 30 days and are subject to security screening.
According to the Malaysia government data, the country recorded 9.16 million tourist arrivals between January and June this year, 283,885 of them from India and 498,540 from China.
During the same period in 2019, prior to the pandemic, there were 1.5 million arrivals from China and 354,486 arrivals from India, which is higher than the current numbers.
So, it is all about Malaysia will allow visa-free entry to Indian nationals from 1 December.
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Source:- economictimes.indiatimes.com
