It came during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent state visit to Malaysia.
It extends the current temporary visa-free arrangement which was due to expire at the end of this year.
“We agreed to extend it for another five years, with an option to renew for a further five years once it ends,” Malaysia Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said.
“The visa exemption allows Chinese tourists to stay in Malaysia for up to 90 days, and China has offered a similar arrangement for Malaysians,” Saifuddin added.
The temporary initiative had proven a success with a significant increase in tourist arrivals from China, Saifuddin said.
Malaysia focuses on attracting young Chinese tourists after missing 2024 target
It welcomed four million visitors from China in 2024.
China remains the top source of international tourists to Malaysia.
“Tourism continues to be a key contributor to the national economy, given its immediate impact compared to other forms of investment.”
“There is stability for the industry to plan ahead and boost efforts to attract more Chinese tourists,” said Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents president Nigel Wong.
It comes as tourism officials fine tune plans for the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign targeting 35.6 million international arrivals.
Tags: Nigel Wong, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents, Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Malaysia Home Affairs, China Malaysia
