BEIJING, Aug 23 ― Tourism Malaysia has proposed the Visa-on-Arrival (VOA) facility targeting Chinese and Indian tourists via land checkpoint for travellers visiting Malaysia from Singapore.

Currently, travellers can only apply for VOA at the following air checkpoints, namely KL International Airport (KLIA), Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT, KLIA), Penang Airport, Sultan Ismail Airport, Senai, Johor Baharu, Kota Kinabalu Airport, Sabah; and Kuching Airport, Sarawak.

The facility aimed at increasing the competitiveness of Malaysia to boost the tourism industry compared with the neighbouring countries, said the Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, Tan Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

For instance, she said Thailand had granted a three-month visa free policy for Chinese tourists beginning Aug 9 this year, some offered electronic visa (e-visa) or visa-free facilities.

Hence, Ng pointed out that the policy adjustment would definitely help in boosting Malaysia's tourism industry. She disclosed this to Malaysian reporters here today during her visit in China.

The disappearance of Beijing-bound Malaysia Airlines (MAS) MH370 on March 8, and kidnapping incidents in Sabah had dented Malaysia's tourism and shelved the Visit Malaysia 2014 campaign.

In order to draw more Chinese tourists, Ng said the tourism ministry had carried out a series of “silence promotion” in China instead of advertising the promotion on billboards.

Hence, Ng said tourism officers had been intensifying the promotion by organising a face-to-face meeting with the local travel agents and key decision-making industry players.

She said local tour agencies and social media personnel were also being invited to participate in the familiarization trips to visit Sabah. ― Bernama