Malaysia Seeks To Boost Indian Tourism In Penang With Extended Visa Exemption Until 2026

Penang Roadshow Kicks Off in Mumbai to Attract Indian Tourists Amid Visa Exemption Extension | X

Mumbai: Malaysia is eyeing to attract more Indian tourists to its northern province of Penang after the country has extended the Visa exemption for Indians till 2026. After its record breaking tourist inflow from India in 2024, Malaysia is expecting to increase the numbers by introducing its northern region to Indian tourists.

The Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB), a state bureau established to develop the Business Events and meetings in Penang, hosted its eighth edition of the Penang Roadshow to India on Monday.

The roadshow to attract more Indian tourists to the northern region of Malaysia was kicked off from Mumbai to strengthen its ties with the Indian market which plays a key role in Penang’s tourism and business events sectors.

In 2024, Penang hosted around 1,900 events, attracting 2.96 lakh delegates and generated an estimated economic impact of RM1.27 billion. Officials believe that 25% of these visitors consist of Indians, being one of the top ten source countries.

While Penang has been a leading destination for business events in the region, the roadshow is aimed at building on the momentum to position Penang as the ideal choice for Indian buyers and stakeholders.

The roadshow highlighted the new direct connectivity between Penang and Chennai by IndiGo Airlines, which is considered to be a game-changer for Penang and the Indian market.

The new flight will offer access to Penang for passengers from 32 domestic cities in India, including major cities such as Bengaluru, Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai. PCEB is now eyeing to increase the connectivity to Penang with more cities in the northern India.

Ashwin Gunasekeran, Chief Executive Officer of PCEB, said, “This new connection strengthens the bond between our regions, making Penang more accessible and enabling greater collaboration. It will undoubtedly elevate the experience for buyers attending the roadshow and foster long-term growth in tourism and business events.”

India has been a vital source market for Malaysia as it welcomed a total of 10.09 lakh Indian visitors from January to November, recording 71.7% increase compared to 2023. Malaysia has officially extended its visa exemption for Indian nationals until December 31, 2026. This exemption will allow Indians to enter Malaysia without a visa for up to 30 days.

YB Wong Hon Wai, Penang State Executive Councilor for Tourism and Creative Economy, said, “Penang’s charm lies in its ability to offer something for everyone be it cultural experiences, culinary delights, or world-class venues. With the continuation of the free-visa initiative, we anticipate a significant increase in tourist arrivals, allowing Indian visitors to fully immerse themselves in Penang’s unique offerings.”

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}