KUALA LUMPUR: The 30 – day visa-free entry to Malaysia starting December 1 (Friday) is seen as a step to further bolster unwavering bilateral relations besides stimulating the economy and tourism sector in the country.
Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) (Perak Chapter) president, Law Weng Sum, said that the visa-free entry initiative came at just the right time with Visit Perak Year 2024, which will greatly encourage tourists from China to make a visit to the Silver State.
"Besides that, this initiative has the potential to attract citizens of China to invest in businesses and many more sectors, as well as enabling them to stay in Malaysia for a longer time to explore the multitude of culture and tourist spots," he told Bernama when contacted today (November 27).
Complementing the visa-free entry, he said MCTA Perak Chapter has joined hands with the state government of Perak and Tourism Perak to promote Visit Perak Year 2024.
"The association has also signed a cooperation agreement with the Nanning Tourism Association from China recently to facilitate resource and tourist exchanges between Perak and Nanning," he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Economist and Social Finance head of Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad, Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the visa-free entry is a positive step taken by the government to restore Malaysia's economy.
He said the government could capitalise on the currently weak Ringgit and translate it into an opportunity to boost and encourage expenditure by tourists from countries enjoying the visa-free entry into Malaysia.
"Clearly, the weak Ringgit would entice foreign tourists to come to Malaysia and by easing some of the rules, it might result in more inbound tourists to this country.
"Therefore, we may need to showcase our selling points such as the diversity in culture and historical narratives that would make them (tourists) see Malaysia as an attractive tourism spot," he said.
Yesterday (November 26), Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government will grant a 30 – day visa-free entry for citizens of China and India from December 1, as part of the celebration of the 50-year strategic partnership between Malaysia and China next year.
He said it was an additional facility to the existing visa exemptions currently enjoyed by citizens from Gulf countries and other West Asian nations, including Turkiye and Jordan.
The 30-day visa-free entry is also currently enjoyed by eight Asean countries for the purpose of social visits, tourism and business. — Bernama