Nazri backs call for liberal visa requirements
Published on: Friday, December 19, 2014
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia should have liberal visa requirements for Chinese tourists so that it can meet its target of 29.4 million tourists in 2015, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said.Agreeing on a proposal to loosen the visa requirements from tour agents, Nazri said that other Asean nations had liberal visa requirements for Chinese tourists amid Putrajaya's concerns that a number of Chinese tourists come in for the vice trade."Next year, we are targeting 29.4 million tourists, and I think most of the additional 1.4 million tourists will come from China," he said after officiating the Treasures from the Summer Place exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.
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"I agree the visa regime must be made more liberal as other Asean countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Laos and Cambodia, also have a very liberal regime about visa."If we have any concern, the neighbouring countries will also have the same concern. But why are they confident enough to loosen the visa requirement?"I think Malaysia also needs to do the same thing, as the people from China are different from those of 30 years ago," the Minister said.Saying that Matta's request was timely, Nazri said he would do his best to get the Cabinet's approval to loosen the visa requirements.
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"We face tough competition from neighbouring countries, Thailand for instance, despite clashes in the country last year, still managed to record four million Chinese tourists arrival compared with two million in 2012."He said this was due to the waive of visa regime in Thailand, making it easier for tourists from China to enter the country.
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"Malaysia needs to do the same. In fact, I was informed that Indonesia has started this," he said.As for Visit Selangor Year 2015, Nazri said he would extend his support to Selangor, although it is ruled by Pakatan Rakyat.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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