KUALA LUMPUR: The Government has agreed to grant visa exemption to tour groups from China on a trial basis.
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Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the move was decided by the Cabinet on Friday.
He said the implementation date of the trial period would be announced by Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz soon.
“We are still looking for the best option for individual tourists,” he told reporters before breaking fast with 200 orphans from Bagan Datoh here yesterday.
Nazri had called on the Government to hasten the proposed visa exemption for tourists from China to woo more of them to the country.
He had said that between January and March this year, the number of tourist arrivals had dropped to 6.5 million, from 7.1 million in the same period last year.
Dr Ahmad Zahid, who is also Bagan Datoh MP, assured the public that the Government would not compromise on security.
“Several mechanisms to ensure they return to their home country for a certain period are being sought together with the immigration, police and other authorities,” he said.
He added that the Government had to withdraw the visa-on-arrival (VOA) facility to Chinese tourists due to certain problems such as overstaying. — Bernama
