Improved Visa Facilities boost travel to Malaysia from China and India

A review of Malaysia’s tourism performance in 2016 and the first quarter of 2017 indicate that tourist arrivals from the China market is on the rise again after the slowdown in 2015.  Between March 2016 and April 2017, there was a total of 284,606 e-visa applications and 323,173 eNTRI applications from China nationals.

The number of visas approved for Indian tourists has also shot up by 91.1% following the Prime Minister’s visit to India in April.

With information technology playing a critical role in tourism these days, the online application system for travel arrangements to #Malaysia will be a game changer and accelerate the growth of Malaysia’s tourism industry.

This improved facility is expected to help attract larger numbers of tourists from China and India to Malaysia who are looking for a holiday experience that offers diversity at an affordable price. Furthermore, the cordial relations and strong historical ties Malaysia has with China and India will make travelers from these two countries feel right at home in Malaysia.

Online visa applications for all tourists planning to visit Malaysia are processed by the Immigration Department of Malaysia and can be made at: www.windowmalaysia.my

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e-Tourist Visa arrivals in India for October 2016 up 86%

A total of 1,05,268 foreign tourists arrived in #India in October 2016 on an e-Tourist Visa compared to just 56,477 during the month of October 2015 registering a growth of 86.4%. 

The UK (22.9%) continues to occupy top slot followed by USA (12.1%) and France (6.6%) amongst countries using the e-tourist visa facility During October 2016.

The facility of e-Tourist Visa has been made available by the Government of India to the citizens of 150 countries, arriving at 16 International Airports in India.

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Sharp rise in Indian e-tourist visas; UK and US account for largest number of successful applicants

THE NUMBER of visitors entering #India on the new #e-tourist #visas jumped sharply in March 2016. According to the latest data from India’s Ministry of Tourism, a total of 115,677 e-visas were issued last month, compared to 25,851 in March 2015. 

The growth rate of almost 350% has been driven by the expansion of the e-visa system, which is now available for the citizens of 150 countries.

The UK (27.7%) accounted for the largest percentage of successful e-visa applicants, followed by the US (13.4%), Russia (7.0%), France (6.6%), Germany (5.2%), and China (4.5%).

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Everything you need to know about visas … but were afraid to ask

TO HELP British travellers prepare for their holidays, Airport Parking & Hotels (APH) has created a guide comparing #visa requirements around the world. 

It compares the visa requirements of 12 countries – including Abu Dhabi, the US, Canada, and Iran – and compares the cost of the visa, its validity, and any stipulations faced when applying for the visa.

British citizens are required to apply for visas for six of the 12 destinations researched, including China, Iran, and Sri Lanka. Of the destinations researched, British citizens can travel visa-free if visiting European countries, Canada, and Peru. However, travellers should note that an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) will be required when flying to Canada from March 15 this year.

The cost of visas vary between destinations, ranging from £10 for the US Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) to £135 for a visa stamp fee for entry into Iran. 

Travellers should know that cash is the only form of payment accepted when applying for a tourist visa in person at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London.

For Iranian visa applications, women and girls over nine-years-old must wear a headscarf in their application photographs, and for eVisitor visas to Australia travellers must be free of tuberculosis. 

Travellers who have visited Iran, Iraq, Sudan, or Syria since March 2011 will not qualify for entry to the US under the visa waiver programme.

The research can be found in the Know Before You Go section of the APH website at www.aph.com/visarequirements.   

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/69362954@N00/6917889900">Dambulla cave temple (දඹුලු ලෙන් විහාරය ) Sri Lanka</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license)

India targets 1m UK travellers

#INDIA is aiming to attract one million arrivals from the UK by 2020, says the country’s tourism ministry. This would be a 19% increase on the 838,860 UK travellers who visited India in 2014. 

Measures being taken to achieve this target include the launch of India’s electronic tourist visa scheme, which was expanded to include UK travellers earlier this year. Plans are also in place to extend the e-visa’s validity from 30 to 180 days in 2016.

‘We are committed to make it easy for travellers wanting to come to India, not least through our e-visa scheme but by improving air connectivity between the UK and India,’ said Mr Vinod Zutshi, tourism ministry official. ‘We aim to attract more visitors through the promotion and development of niche tourism experiences such as adventure, wellness, golf, pilgrimage and the “Paradise Unexplored” north-east. In addition, we are working to improve the infrastructure at many of our beach destinations.’

To broaden India’s appeal as a year-round destination, Mr Zutshi also announced the creation of a medical tourism board and a golf promotion committee.

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/22490717@N02/2215627700">India-6826</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)

India extends e-Tourist visa scheme

#INDIA’S government has extended its e-Tourist visa scheme to a further 36 countries, making a total of 113.

The additional countries include the UK, Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/106447493@N05/15494028609">Agra, Taj Mahal, January 2012</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)