Budget Revision: Visa fee waiver for tourists

Foreign tourist arriving at KLIA.

PETALING JAYA: The Government has announced waiver of visa fees for tourists including from China as part of a strategy to boost Malaysia's tourism industry.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who announced the 2015 Budget revision measures on Tuesday, also spoke of other methods to boost tourism in an effort to address changes in the price of crude oil that has affected the country’s national budget.

"We will increase the frequency and duration of mega sales throughout the nation, and intensify domestic tourism promotions by offering competitive airfares," said Najib.

In his speech, Najib spoke of other economy-boosting measures.

"Steps are being taken to re-examine the levy imposed on foreign workers," said Najib.

He added that improvements would be made to import and export processes at the Padang Besar railway terminal, and that a system of air hubs and networks would be set up.

Najib is adjusting Budget 2015, with both proactive and pre-emptive measures, in move to ensure sustainable development and resilience of the economy, with actions and policy interventions being set up to handle the changing economic scenario caused by the oil price slump.

When Najib, who is also Finance Minister, tabled Budget 2015 last year with an expected expenditure of RM273.9bil against an expected revenue of RM235.2bil, oil price averaged around US$90 (RM355) per barrel.

But the price has been falling and is expected to drop to as low as US$40 (RM140) in the first six months of this year.

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