In a recent statement, the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India announced that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia regarding tourism cooperation. Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, India’s Tourism and Culture Minister, and Mr. YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia, signed the agreement on 20 August 2024. The agreement is expected to strengthen the cultural ties between the two nations and bolster the existing tourism relations.
The agreement marks a historic moment in India-Malaysia bilateral relations based on shared culture, history, and economic interests. The MoU aims to encourage and market tourism services and products, promote investment in the tourism infrastructure, and strengthen collaboration among tour operators, stakeholders, and travel agents. The agreement will also facilitate medical tourism, business tourism, and community-based tourism initiatives.
According to the statement by the Ministry of Tourism, India, the agreement has the following objectives:
- Promotion and marketing of tourism products and services: This will include joint promotional activities, the development of innovative tourism products catering to the needs of Malaysian and Indian travellers, and participation in international tourism fairs.
- Encourage investment in tourism infrastructure, facilities, products and services: The MoU will contribute to Indian and Malaysian businesses by increasing investment in resorts, transportation, hotels, and other facilities.
- Expansion in tourism research, training and development, and exchange programmes: This objective will enable an exchange of knowledge and expertise through joint research projects and best practices.
- Exchanging information in medical tourism and encouraging stakeholders to promote the product.
- Promoting cooperation between tourism stakeholders, tour operators and travel agents.
- Business tourism, which includes meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE): Organising joint events and promoting each other’s MICE destinations is a key takeaway of this objective.
- Promoting and developing community-based tourism, eco-tourism and responsible tourism: Both countries will create products that benefit local communities and preserve the natural environment.
Malaysia is one of India’s most crucial inbound tourist source markets. Around 2.5 lakh Malaysian tourists visited India in 2022. There has been a steady growth in economic trade between the two countries. India-Malaysia bilateral trade reached $19.5 billion in 2023. Both nations aim to increase the trade value to $25 billion by 2025. Tourism is expected to play a vital role in achieving this ambitious figure. It will be further facilitated by both countries’ commitment to reduce airfare and ease visa rules.
The signing of the MoU took place during the visit of Malaysian Prime Minister, Mr. Anwar Ibrahim, to India in August 2024. His visit facilitated both countries to enhance their bilateral relation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It would include various collaboration areas like trade, digital technology, defence, education, and culture.
