Date:26/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/26/stories/2008022650180100.htm

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Malaysia considering ‘visa on arrival’ for Indians boarding from Chennai

Special Correspondent

Increase in tourist arrivals from India
India among top 10 travel source markets

CHENNAI: The Immigration authorities in Malaysia are reviewing the current situation to help extend the ‘visa on arrival facility’ to Indian nationals boarding from Chennai. At present, it is available to Indians boarding from other Indian States.

Addressing a press conference organised by Tourism Malaysia, the promotional arm of the Malaysian Government, the Counsellor of Immigration Department of Malaysia based in New Delhi, R.B. Bahari, said, “Unfortunately, we have a large number of overstaying cases of Indian nationals hailing from Tamil Nadu and boarding from Chennai. We are currently reviewing the situation and it is up to the Malaysian Government to extend this facility to those Indian nationals coming from Chennai and arriving in Kuala Lumpur to enjoy this status.”

However, the Immigration authorities in Malaysia provided one-year multiple entry visa to Indian nationals coming from Chennai. Besides, they could obtain a 30-day tourist visa from their consulate office in Chennai prior to their arrival in Kuala Lumpur, Mr. Bahari said.

Isolated incidents

When asked whether the recent attack on Tamils living in Kuala Lumpur had an impact on tourist arrivals from India, Manoharan, Director of India, Tourism Malaysia, described the developments as “isolated incidents” and said there was no impact. On the contrary, he said there was an increase in tourist arrivals in November and December last when compared to the previous year.

The Tourism Malaysia Director of South Asia, Middle East, and Africa, Tuan Haji Aziz Noordin, said India figured among the top 10 travel source markets for Malaysia since there had been a 51.4 per cent increase in arrivals. As many as 4,22,452 Indian tourists visited Kuala Lumpur during 2007. “Our delegation comprising 18 tour operators, 19 hoteliers, and 35 members of Tourism Malaysia sales mission had detailed talks with travel trade and tour operators in Chennai to enlarge the scope of tourism collaboration since tourism promotion was a two-way traffic,” Mr. Noordin said.