DRMumbai: Tourism Malaysia held a two-city roadshow in Mumbai and Bhubaneshwar in January. A team of 22 product suppliers from Malaysia – 10 tour operators/DMCs, 7 hotels/resorts, 4 product owners and 1 airline – participated in the roadshow. They shared attractive packages with amazing discounts and incentives for the visiting travel fraternity.
India is one of top 10 source markets for Malaysia ranked 7th below Singapore, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Brunei and South Korea.
“Malaysia is a bio-diverse country with rich tradition and culture. The natural environment surrounded with rich flora and fauna, pristine beaches, theme parks, adventure activities and nightlife are very appealing for any Indian tourist. Luxury enjoyed at an affordable price is what Malaysia is and will be,” said Mohd. Hafiz Hashim, Director, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, Mumbai.
In 2018, Malaysia welcomed 5,50,000 Indian visitors from January to November, up by 9.5 per cent compared to the same period in 2017.
“We are confident that we would have crossed the 6,00,000 visitor mark when the official figures are released soon,” said Mohamad Taib Ibrahim, Senior Deputy Director, South Asia, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, who accompanied the delegation. The target for 2019 is 8,00,000 Indian travellers and the aim is to touch 1 million by the end of 2020.
Malaysia wants to go beyond shopping and theme parks when it comes to engaging with Indian visitors. Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi and Penang aside, the Board is focussing on showcasing new destinations like Sabah and Sarawak – Malaysian states on Borneo Island, and Sipadan Island, the only oceanic island in Malaysia.
Sabah is known for its beaches, rainforests, coral reefs and abundant wildlife, much of it within parks and reserves. Off the East Coast of Sabah is Sipadan Island, one of the best diving spots in the world. Sarawak has rugged, dense rainforests, much of it protected parkland.
“From a segment perspective we are seriously looking at business events as we are seeing a lot of movement from India. Secondly, we want to target destination weddings. Sabah, Sarawak and Penang can offer excellent settings for big Indian weddings,” added Mohd. Hafiz Hashim.
Indian travellers to Malaysia have been waived off the requirement for a visa. According to an official document issued by the Electronic Travel Registration & Information (eNTRI) of Malaysia, the visa waiver program is valid till December 31, 2019. Indian nationals must register themselves with the eNTRI system to avail of the waiver. The applicant must carry a print out of the eNTRI note on the journey. The note is valid for a single entry to Malaysia for a maximum of 15 days.
Applicants must travel to Malaysia within 90 days after obtaining the eNTRI Note. They are required to furnish the eNTRI note, boarding pass, confirmed return tickets, sufficient funds, complete travel itinerary and proof of residence in Malaysia to the immigration officers at the Malaysia entry and exit points.
