PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s move to ease visa-on-arrival (VOA) and multiple-entry visa processes to boost foreign tourist arrivals seems like a good step, but some industry players feel it will not have much impact.
“I don’t think getting a visa to visit Malaysia is much of an issue as tourists will still come here because Malaysia is a great destination,” said Fred Rizal, who runs a tour company called Histourism.
ALSO READ: Budget 2024: Next Visit Malaysia Year to be held in 2026
His concern is that some tour operators would charge their clients exorbitant prices, besides delivering sub-par services in the hospitality sector.
“These are the bigger issues. Compared with other countries in South-East Asia, we are quite behind in this regard. We just can’t seem to improve our services sector,” he claimed.
Budget 2024 has introduced the Malaysia Visa Liberalisation Plan, and one of the initiatives is to improve VOA and multiple-entry visa processes.
Currently, VOA is only extended to tourists from China and India, and only if they arrive in Malaysia via Singapore, Indonesia or Thailand.
ALSO READ: Highlights of Budget 2024
“Why can’t they apply to enter Malaysia directly?” asked Datuk Tan Kok Liang, who runs Borneo Trails Tours & Travel.
“Also, a visa entry is for a single use and it comes with high processing fees.”
Digital platform Airbnb said improvements to VOA facilities, social visit passes and multiple-entry visas, as well as relaxing the existing conditions for Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) applications, would help drive longer stays in the country.
Mich Goh, Airbnb head of public policy for South-East Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said in a statement that the provision of RM350mil for tourism promotions and another RM120mil for the maintenance and conservation of tourist attractions and heritage sites were strong measures that would enhance Malaysia’s travel appeal.
“This will help position Malaysia as a preferred international destination in the long term,” he said.
For Visit Malaysia Year 2026, about 26.1 million foreign visitor arrivals and a domestic expenditure of RM97.6bil are targeted.
There will also be more focus on niche tourism markets including golf, weddings, scuba diving and ecotourism next year, alongside promotional activities for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
Also part of the Malaysia Visa Liberalisation Plan is the easing of conditions for the MM2H scheme.
Applications for this scheme will be made easier to boost the arrival of foreign tourists and investors into Malaysia.
A long-term social visit pass will also be introduced for international students in the country who have graduated to meet our industry’s need for skilled manpower.
However, biotech student Zahraa Ozeer, 28, was not too optimistic on that front.
“I don’t think it would be much help if there is no change to immigration and work policies. I’ve been here for quite some time and I’ve been applying for jobs in the past two years.
“Despite having plenty of time to apply for jobs while on my student visa, I wasn’t chosen because I am an international student,” says Zahraa, who is studying at a college in Ipoh.
