In a statement, the ministry’s secretary-general, Awang Alik Jeman, said the decision was made in view of Malaysia taking over as the Asean chair next year as well as preparations for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

In June, Putrajaya extended visa exemption for Chinese tourists until the end of 2026 in reciprocating China’s agreement to extend its visa exemption facility for Malaysian tourists until the end of next year.

A month earlier, deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said China had agreed to extend the visa exemption for Malaysian tourists from 15 to 30 days.

The extension of visa exemption for Indian nationals comes six months after the Indian high commission in Kuala Lumpur announced that Malaysians applying for the e-Tourist visa to India will be granted a 30-day fee exemption for a year beginning July 1.

The decision to extend the exemption is part of the country’s visa liberalisation plan that was implemented to improve economic and tourism prospects without compromising national security.

Separately, Malaysian High Commissioner to India Muzafar Shah Mustafa said over a million Indian nationals have chose Malaysia as their destination of choice this year, Sinar Harian reported.

Muzafar said Malaysia saw a significant jump in Indian tourists after visa exemptions were introduced in December 2023.

Last year, Malaysia recorded some 671,846 tourists from India. This year alone, over a million tourists from India visited the country between January and November.

“Our target for 2025 is around 1.1 million,” he was quoted as saying.