Nancy fields questions from reporters. – Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING (July 28): The Home Affairs Ministry has been asked to review the current visa application policy and to consider granting multiple entry visas to foreign travellers visiting Malaysia.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Dato Sri Nancy Shukri said at present foreigners who visit the country are granted single entry visas and this may be inconvenient for travellers.
She opined a review of the current policy should help see an increase of tourist arrivals in Malaysia.
“At the moment, we give them (tourists) only single entry visas. We hope the Home Affairs Ministry will review such visa applications.
“Some travellers come in (to Malaysia) through Kuala Lumpur and then they go to Singapore. If they want to visit Malaysia, they have to apply again,” she told a press conference after opening the 23rd Asean Sub-Committee on Culture Meeting and the 11th Asean Plus Three Cultural Cooperation Network Meeting here today.
She said her ministry had written to the Home Affairs Ministry on the matter.
“We depend so much on the Home Affairs Ministry and we hope that they will facilitate foreign travellers,” she said.
Nancy said Singapore continues to top Malaysia’s tourist arrivals table, followed by Thailand and the Philippines.
She said the number of travellers from India is also picking up quickly and quite a number of them would prefer multiple entry visas.
“We hope that there will be a temporary policy to facilitate foreign travellers visiting Malaysia,” she added.