Malaysia announces extension of visa-free entry for Indians until 2026
The Hindu
Malaysia extends visa exemption for Indian nationals until 2026 to boost tourism and economic growth.
The Malaysian government has announced the extension of the 30-day visa exemption for Indian nationals until December 31, 2026. This initiative, part of Malaysia’s visa liberalisation plan, is aimed at promoting economic and tourism growth in the lead-up to Visit Malaysia Year 2026 and Malaysia’s chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025.
Saravana Kumar Kumaravasagam, Consul General of Malaysia in Chennai, said: “This is a golden opportunity for the people of Tamil Nadu and across India to explore Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage, pristine beaches, and vibrant cities without the hassle of applying for a visa.”
Also read: Wooing Indian tourists with visa-free entry | Explained
According to data from the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as Tourism Malaysia, the country welcomed one million Indian tourists between January and November 2024. “A total of 1,009,114 Indian visitors were recorded, representing a remarkable 47% growth compared to the same period in 2019, prior to the pandemic. This also marks an impressive 71.7% increase compared to 2023, reaffirming Malaysia’s appeal as a preferred destination for Indian tourists.”
It credited this boost in tourist activity to its visa-free entry policy which was first implemented in 2023. “This policy has opened up new opportunities for travel and played a key role in this remarkable growth. In response to the surge, 2024 saw the launch of numerous new routes from India, including Indigo Airlines which introduced direct flights daily to Penang and Langkawi starting December 2024 alongside their existing routes to Kuala Lumpur,” Tourism Malaysia said in a press release.
According to the tourism board, ‘Visit Malaysia Year 2026’ aims to increase tourism revenue, strengthen Malaysia’s global tourism competitiveness, and ultimately position the sector as one of the largest contributors to the country’s GDP.
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