Multi-visit visas for Indians

KUALA LUMPUR Indian tourists will soon be given multiple entry visas for 15 days to allow them to use Malaysia as gateway to explore neighbouring countries.

By offering Indian travellers a multiple entry visa, they will be able to fly to Malaysia explore South Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia and return to Malaysia to catch flights back home.

The strategy will make Malaysia a gateway to explore ASEAN first for Indian tourists, who still require a visa.  Based on its success, the multiple entry visa will be extended to other nationalities, the MalayMail Online report stated.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the visa facility targeted tourists who had the means to enjoy short vacations in the region and use Malaysia as the gateway.

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz described the move as a game changer for the tourism industry.

He promised the facility would also be extended to tourists from China and eventually other nationalities that need a visa to enter Malaysia.

It will also encourage more traffic on Malaysian airlines and their code-share airline partners in India, and make it more convenient to  sell multiple sector fights covering ASEAN through the Kuala Lumpur gateway.  If ASEAN nations allowed a single visa for Indians to visit all member countries it would unlock the full potential of India’s outbound market that ultimately challenge China as the top source market.

From January to October 2016, Malaysia welcomed 540,530 tourists from India — making it the sixth largest source market for Malaysia.

Visa applications can be made online and approved within 48 hours without the need to pay a fee.

Tourism Malaysia chairman Datuk Siew Ka Wei praised the multiple entry move, adding the dynamics to attract visitors had now changed.

Read more...