KUALA PILAH: Visitors from India and China to Malaysia increased 60% and 35% respectively last December after the implementation of 30-day visa-free entry for citizens from these two countries from 1 December.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the comparison was made with last November, and the surge in the number of tourists showed the visa-free entry measure announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was generating a positive impact on the country’s tourism industry.

He believed more tourists would visit the country this year.

“The government is confident that 2024 will be a good year for tourism,” said Loke after launching the Chinese New Year 2024 celebration at Si Thian Kong Temple here with Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

He said there are many temples in Malaysia which should be introduced to foreign tourists, citing the example of Si Thian Kong Temple in Kuala Pilah which has now become a tourist destination in Negeri Sembilan.