Starting from December 1, Malaysia will allow citizens from China and India to enter visa-free for stays of up to 30 days.
The visa exemptions will remain in effect until December 31, 2024. The measure is being introduced after Malaysia observed a surge in tourist arrivals, reaching 9.16 million between January and June this year, with notable increases from China (498,540) and India (283,885) compared to the pre-pandemic period of 2019, VisaGuide.World reports.
According to local media, China and India rank as Malaysia’s fourth- and fifth-largest tourist contributors.
The increase in the number of Indian tourists has also pushed countries like Sri Lanka and Thailand to remove visas for Indian nationals. Since November 10, 2023, Thailand has abolished visa requirements for Indian citizens, allowing a 30-day visa-free stay until May 10, 2024, with potential extensions based on demand.
On the other hand, effective from December 1, 2023, until November 30, 2024, China is set to offer visa-free access to individuals holding ordinary passports from Malaysia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. This initiative is part of China’s efforts to facilitate travel and foster closer ties with these countries during the specified period.
Sri Lanka has also embraced a visa-free policy for Indians until March 31, 2024, and expanded this privilege to citizens of China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand. This initiative is part of Sri Lanka’s strategic efforts to revitalize tourism post-COVID-19 and address economic challenges.
Meanwhile, Vietnam is considering introducing short-term visa-free entry for Indian nationals. Currently, citizens from seven countries, including Germany, France, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Denmark and Finland, enjoy visa-free access to Vietnam.
At the same time, in an effort to increase tourism, the Vietnamese government has also implemented additional measures, including the issuance of e-visas with a duration of up to 90 days for visitors from all countries.
As of November 2023, the Malaysian passport holds the 46th position in the VisaGuide Passport Index. This ranking signifies that Malaysian passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 143 countries worldwide. For the remaining countries, individuals with Malaysian passports are required to apply for visas in advance to facilitate their entry.