Waive VOA fee for China tourists too

PONTIAN: The Federal Government should waive the US$100 (RM360) fee imposed on China nationals using visa-on-arrival (VOA) facility to enter Johor.

State Tourism, Trade and Consumerism Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong, who made the call, said this would be in line with the Government’s decision to abolish visa fees for China tourists.

“I am confident that if the fees for the VOA is waived for Chinese nationals, it will spur more tourist arrivals from Singapore,” he said at his Chinese New Year open house here on Thursday.

Presently, Tee said an average of about 100 people a month use the VOA facility at the Second Link, which is approved within 10 to 20 minutes and valid for seven days.

“At least 65% of those using the facility are China nationals with the rest being Indian nationals,” he said, adding that since the facility was introduced on Nov 1 last year, more than 500 people had used it. He added that many of those entering were businessmen who had spare time while on holiday in Singapore.

Tee said the Sultan Abu Bakar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex at the Second Link was the first land entry point in the country that allowed tourists from India and China to enter using VOA. “Prior to this, the VOA facility was available at the Penang, Senai, Sabah and Sarawak airports, as well as KLIA and KLIA2,” he added.

Tee said tourism arrivals into Johor would pick up with the upcoming Johor Ruler’s Coronation ceremony on March 23. “I have been told that the hotel room take-up rate in the state has been good,” he said, adding that the average occupancy rate had increased to 70%.

-thestar online.