Indians flock to Malaysian shores
Many Indians have enrolled for an attractive scheme which offers 10-year, multiple-entry visa to Malaysia.
By Sunny Verma and G Ganapathy Subramaniam, TNN |
NEW DELHI: For Indians with dollars to splurge, Malaysia is turning into a second home. As many as 490 Indians have enrolled for an attractive scheme offering 10-year, multiple-entry visa to Malaysia against deposit of $75,000 in a Malaysian bank for one year. The scheme entitles participants to withdraw $60,000 after a year for investment in properties in Malaysia. For senior citizens, deposit of $50,000 will do, provided they have a stable income of $2500 per month.
More Indians are expected to take up the scheme as it allows them to access business and educational facilities in Malaysia, according to Detuk Seri Tengku Adnan B Tengku Mansor, Malaysia’s tourism minister who is on a visit here. Ever since it was launched in June ’06, the ‘Malaysia Residency Programme’ has attracted over 10,000 people.
The response from India is significant since business communities from the two countries are expected to come closer once the proposed India-Asean free trade agreement (FTA) takes off. Malaysia is attractive to Indian businesses and tourists since English language is spoken in most parts of the country and the legal systems are similar due to the British legacy, Mr Mansor said.
By enrolling in the residency scheme, Indians can get access to higher education in Malaysia where varsities have tie-ups with their western counterparts, he added. Malaysia could also become the launching pad for Indians to do business with Asean.
With about 3 lakh Indians are expected to visit Malaysia in ’06, India is turning out to be a very important tourism market for Malaysia. Indian tourists also stay longer and spend more while doing business or holidaying in Malaysia, Mr Mansor said. “On an average Indian tourists spend 25% more than other tourists. India is among the top ten markets for us and we are targeting 4 lakh Indian tourists next year,” he told ET. Malaysia already has a ‘Open Skies’ agreement with India which allows unlimited number of flights between the two countries.
Malaysia also offers visa-on-arrival to Indian tourists. The south-east Asian country is also trying to promote itself as an international convention centre for business meets and conventions. Apart from Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, it has built two more such centres. “Indian firms have already been sending their employees to Malaysia for recreation. We want them to hold conferences and seminars,” said Mr Mansor.
More Indians are expected to take up the scheme as it allows them to access business and educational facilities in Malaysia, according to Detuk Seri Tengku Adnan B Tengku Mansor, Malaysia’s tourism minister who is on a visit here. Ever since it was launched in June ’06, the ‘Malaysia Residency Programme’ has attracted over 10,000 people.
The response from India is significant since business communities from the two countries are expected to come closer once the proposed India-Asean free trade agreement (FTA) takes off. Malaysia is attractive to Indian businesses and tourists since English language is spoken in most parts of the country and the legal systems are similar due to the British legacy, Mr Mansor said.
By enrolling in the residency scheme, Indians can get access to higher education in Malaysia where varsities have tie-ups with their western counterparts, he added. Malaysia could also become the launching pad for Indians to do business with Asean.
With about 3 lakh Indians are expected to visit Malaysia in ’06, India is turning out to be a very important tourism market for Malaysia. Indian tourists also stay longer and spend more while doing business or holidaying in Malaysia, Mr Mansor said. “On an average Indian tourists spend 25% more than other tourists. India is among the top ten markets for us and we are targeting 4 lakh Indian tourists next year,” he told ET. Malaysia already has a ‘Open Skies’ agreement with India which allows unlimited number of flights between the two countries.
Malaysia also offers visa-on-arrival to Indian tourists. The south-east Asian country is also trying to promote itself as an international convention centre for business meets and conventions. Apart from Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, it has built two more such centres. “Indian firms have already been sending their employees to Malaysia for recreation. We want them to hold conferences and seminars,” said Mr Mansor.
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