Friday, August 30, 2024 India and Malaysia have taken a significant step towards enhancing their already strong political, economic, and socio-cultural ties by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost cooperation in the field of tourism. This agreement was formalized on August 20, 2024, with the signing of the MoU between India’s Minister of Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Y B Dato Sri Tiong King Sing. The MoU aims to deepen collaboration between the two nations in several key areas of tourism.
These include the promotion and marketing of tourism products and services, expanding tourism research, training, and development through exchange programs, and encouraging investment in tourism infrastructure. Additionally, the agreement focuses on sharing information in the medical tourism sector, promoting business tourism, particularly Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE), and fostering cooperation between tourism stakeholders such as tour operators and travel agents. The MoU also emphasizes the development of community-based tourism, eco-tourism, and responsible tourism practices.
Malaysia has long been an important source market for inbound tourism to India. In 2022 alone, over 250,000 Malaysian tourists visited India, highlighting the strong tourism links between the two countries. The newly signed MoU is expected to further boost tourist arrivals from Malaysia and strengthen the tourism relationship between the two nations.
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