MALAYSIA is set to relax restrictive visa regulations for Sri Lankan visitors in hopes to reverse a drop in arrivals from the South Asian nation.
Malaysia’s deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told reporters in Colombo on July 22 that an agreement has been reached to implement e-visas for Sri Lankan tourists and this is expected to be finalised in November.
Currently, Sri Lankan visitors to Malaysia have to submit a plethora of documents and obtain a visa via the Malaysian embassy in Colombo. However, Malaysian visitors to Sri Lanka can use an online facility.
Sri Lankan visitors and travel agents have complained about this restrictive process.
The issue came to the fore in March during a visit by a Malaysian tourism delegation. Leading the team was Daljit Singh, member of the Tourism Malaysia Board of Directors, who then responded to the feedback and promised to recommend a relaxation of visa regulations.
Ahmad Zahid added last week that they would encourage more Sri Lankan arrivals in Malaysia through aggressive promotions and marketing.
Sri Lankan arrivals in Malaysia dropped to 51,337 in 2015 from 61,670 in 2014.
