24-HOUR VISA APPROVAL FOR INDIAN TOURISTS

By P.Vijian

CHENNAI, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- Indian tourists visiting Malaysia will now be
able to obtain their visa within 24 hours following the introduction of a new
facility to encourage more tourist flow to achieve the Malaysian Tourism
Ministry's one million visitors target from India.

"As of Monday, the Malaysian High Commission in Delhi and its two
consulates will shorten the time to process visa to one working day. This is our
commitment to you (India)," visiting Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen
announced in Chennai, during a dialogue with travel operators.

At present, the Malaysian High Commission in Delhi, consulate-general's
offices in Chennai and Mumbai take three working days to process visa for
Indians travelling to Malaysia.

The issue to expedite visa was constantly raised by numerous Indian travel
operators during a series of dialogues with Dr Ng and her high-level delegation.

The minister arrived in New Delhi last Sunday to promote Malaysia and
launched the "One Malaysia" campaign and toured five Indian cities -- Bangalore,
Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai.


An estimated 500,000 Indians visited Malaysia last year and the ministry is
targeting for 600,000 visitors next year, and a million within the next three
years.

During a dialogue with visa agents based in Chennai, the agents involved in
processing visas informed the minister of travelers trying to abuse the social
visa to seek employment in Malaysia and urged Malaysian employers not to offer
jobs.

"They (agents) request our employers not to entertain those coming with
social visa, don't employ them. They want us to impose strict enforcement to
ensure visas are not abused," said Dr Ng.

-- BERNAMA