Malaysia's magic move

A Chinese kid dives at Pulau Redang in Malaysia.[Photo provided to China Daily]

Yesterday's announcement that the Southeast Asian destination will waive visas for Chinese visitors, effective immediately, may prove the potion that puts inbound tourism in motion. Erik Nilsson and Yang Feiyue report.

Poof! Visas vanish. Chinese crowds appear. That's the idea, at least.

Malaysia's waiving of visas for Chinese may prove the waving of a wand.

The gesture will likely, indeed, enchant growing Chinese crowds to explore the Southeast Asian nation's shores, following two years of declining visits from the Middle Kingdom.

The country officially announced yesterday in Beijing that is has, effective immediately, lifted visa requirements for Chinese staying fewer than 15 days under the visa-free program electronic travel registration and information, aka ENTRI, until 2017. Chinese can apply online, if they take direct flights from the Chinese mainland to Malaysia. The application fee is 160 yuan ($24).

Chinese who stay more than 15 days but fewer than 30 can get e-visas valid for three months within 24 hours of applying online for 200 yuan.

Both options are single entry.

The visa waiver follows an e-visa system that proved as convoluted as traditional visa procedures. It had been admonished by Malaysia's tourism leaders as "confusing" to the point of jeopardizing Chinese visitors' "loyalty".

The relaxed rules will likely unleash tidal waves of visitors from the world's biggest outbound-tourism source nation.