INDIA, 26 July 2016 – At a high level gathering in New Delhi on 19 July 2016, the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi officially launched the Electronic Travel Authorization Visa (e-visa) for tourists from India to Malaysia. Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid was on a three-day working visit to India to boost bilateral ties between the two countries. Tourism was amongst the matters discussed with his Indian counterparts.

Last year as many as 722,141 Indian tourists visited Malaysia making it the 6^th largest contributor to tourist arrivals. Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid said, “India is a major contributor to the tourism industry of Malaysia. We are always trying to make travel to Malaysia convenient and the introduction of e-visa is a major step in that direction. We are confident that this development will keep Malaysia as the top-of-the-mind tourist destination, encouraging more Indian tourists to visit and enjoy their holidays in Malaysia.”

Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid added, “India and Malaysia have a lot of similarities as well as contrasts in culture, tradition and cuisine, which is why we like visiting each other’s country. We are confident that with this ease in visa process and a choice of over 172 direct weekly flights with more attractive air fares more Indians will now consider Malaysia as a destination for their next visit.”

Tourism Malaysia through its three offices in India, namely Chennai, Mumbai and New Delhi, has been playing an active role in promoting Malaysia at all levels in this market.

At this point in time, the e-visa facility is available to Indians residing in India only and is valid for a single journey for a stay of maximum 30 days in Malaysia. The Malaysia e-visa comes at a fee of USD25 and can be obtained within 48 hours with a validity of three months. The facility was introduced in April this year and the immigration authorities have reported a steady rise in numbers since then.

In 2015, Malaysia received a total of 25.7 million (25,721,251) tourists and RM69.1 billion in tourism receipts. This year, the country is expected to welcome 30.5 million tourists and earn RM103 billion in receipts.

ENDS

For more media releases, media info and media features on Malaysia’s tourism industry, kindly visit the Media Centre of Tourism Malaysia’s website at http://www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my/

MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD OR TOURISM MALAYSIA is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia at all levels. Since its inception, Tourism Malaysia has grown by leaps and bounds and it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. In 2015, Malaysia registered 25.7 million tourist arrivals and RM69.1 billion in receipts.

Through the Tourism NKEA (National Key Economic Area), collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, other Government agencies and the private sector have been enhanced to help secure Malaysia’s position as a leading tourist destination and achieve the country’s target of 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020.

The targets set under the Tourism NKEA will be achieved through the implementation of twelve Entry Point Projects (EPPs) clustered under five themes: Affordable Luxury; Nature Adventure; Family Fun; Events, Entertainment, Spa and Sports; and Business Tourism.

Press contact:

Media Relations Unit:
Shukri Hanafiah, Senior Deputy Director, Corporate Communication Division
Tel: +603-8891 8767
Email: shukrihanafiah@tourism.gov.my

Editorial Unit:

Anis Rozalina Ramli (Ms), Senior Editor, Corporate Communication Division
Tel: +603-8891 8759
Email: anisramli@tourism.gov.my

Photo Caption:

Official launching of Malaysia e-Visa in India by The Honourable Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia (centre), accompanied by Datuk Seri Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, Director General of Tourism Malaysia (second from left) and H.E. Datuk Naimun Ashakli Mohammad, High Commission of Malaysia in New Delhi (second from right).