Asia's most loved country anticipates tourism and economic growth from 5-year visa extension

Last week, Malaysia announced the extension of its visa exemption for Chinese travelers for another five years, with an option to extend it for an additional five years afterward, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said as reported by Bernama.

The move is expected to help the tourism industry tap into the growing Chinese inbound market, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents president Nigel Wong said as cited by The Star.

With this policy change, Malaysia is also set to draw more business events and travelers in the near future, said Mint Leong, president of the Inbound Tourism Association.

Malaysia has long been a favorite destination for Chinese nationals seeking to escape the cold winter months, particularly from regions like Heilongjiang province, where temperatures often drop below zero degrees Celsius.

Many Chinese tourists flock to Malaysia from late October to February for its warm climate.

From an economic standpoint, some experts believe that the visa extension will contribute to Malaysia's Gross Domestic Product as Chinese investors would flock to Malaysia to seek business prospects.

In 2024, Malaysia welcomed 3.29 million Chinese tourists, a notable increase from the previous year, making China the third-largest source of visitors after Singapore and Indonesia.

In the first two months of 2025, China remained the second-largest source of visitors to Malaysia, with nearly one million arrivals.

Malaysia, named Asia's most loved country by American finance website Insider Monkey, introduced a 30-day visa-free entry policy for Chinese citizens in December 2023, which was later extended through 2026.