PUTRAJAYA - The Visa On Arrival (VOA) requirement for tourists from China and India may be relaxed to increase the number of visitors from both countries in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2020.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohamadin Ketapi said the move might be implemented this year, but he did not give details on the requirement which would be relaxed.
"I don't see any problem with that. We are looking for more tourists, so we need to be lenient.
"We may relax (VOA requirement), but we need discussions with other relevant ministries and ministers," he said yesterday.
The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has urged the government to provide visa-free travel to tourists from China and India to boost the national tourism industry.
MATTA president Datuk Tan Kok Liang said Malaysia suffered a 3% drop in tourist arrivals of 25.95 million in 2017 compared to 26.76 million in 2016, although tourist arrivals throughout Asean in 2017 remained positive.