REUTERS/Lai Seng Sin/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsKUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Malaysia will grant visa-free entry to citizens of China and India for stays of up to 30 days starting on Dec. 1, according to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
According to government data, Malaysia recorded 9.16 million tourist arrivals between January and June this year, with 498,540 from China and 283,885 from India.
That compared to 1.5 million arrivals from China and 354,486 from India in the same period of 2019, prior to the pandemic.
The move follows similar measures implemented by neighbouring Thailand to boost its vital tourism sector and stimulate its sluggish economy, with Chinese and Indian nationals among those exempted this year.
Currently, Chinese and Indian nationals must apply for visas to enter Malaysia.
Persons:
Lai Seng, Anwar Ibrahim, Anwar, Danial Azhar, Martin Petty
Organizations:
Kuala, Kuala Lumpur International, REUTERS, People's Justice Party, Malaysia, Thomson
Locations:
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Singapore, Sepang, KUALA LUMPUR, China, India, Thailand