From 1 December, Malaysia will offer visa-free entry to citizens of India, China and several Middle Eastern countries. The move, which was announced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on 26 November, is expected to dramatically boost tourism arrivals in the weeks ahead. Under the new scheme, visitors will be able to stay for up to 30 days.
The latest offering from Malaysia’s government is intended to spur the ongoing tourism revival, which is already rebounding close to pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, Malaysia welcomed 3.11 million Chinese visitors, representing 11.9% of all inbound arrivals that year.
In the first six months of 2023, arrivals to Malaysia reached 9.2 million, which was 68.6% of the total for the same period in 2019, according to the country’s central bank. By year end, Malaysia expects foreign arrivals to reach around 16 million, bringing in an estimated 50 billion ringgit (US$10.7 billion) to the Malaysian economy.
In addition to China and India, visa-free entry will also be granted to tourists from Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Iran. Visitors from Jordan and Turkey can already enter and remain in the country for up to 30 days without a visa.
Any travellers who want to utilise the new visa-free entry system will first be required to complete a pre-security background check. To ensure safety, the PM has confirmed that anyone with a criminal record or those who ‘might represent a terrorism or security risk’ will be denied entry.
Looking ahead, Malaysia is already moving to expand its visa arrangements in the Southeast Asia region, to strengthen ties with its neighbours and add to the influx of inbound arrivals. This began on 27 November, when Anwar met with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
“I will be heading to the border of Sadao (Thailand) and Bukit Kayu Hitam with the Thai Prime Minister,” said Malaysia’s PM prior to his trip. “We have taken this approach to ensure two-way travel is good, efficient and will encourage more two-way travel between Thailand and Malaysia,” he added.
The PM’s goal is to build connections and spur development between key areas in Southern Thailand and northern Peninsular Malaysia, including upgrades to transport infrastructure at airports. “I will continue the discussion with him (the Thai PM),” said Anwar. “These bilateral ties will directly benefit Malaysia and Thailand.”
