Malaysia moves to boost tourism

Malaysia moves to boost tourism

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is negotiating with Singapore and Thailand to eliminate the use of passports as part of efforts to boost tourism, reports said Saturday.

Travelers to Malaysia will be able to use a traveler's card or their identification card to get into the country to simplify customs and immigration procedures at border checkpoints, Bernama news agency quoted home ministry secretary-general Aseh Che Mat as saying.

Aseh said the home ministry would issue a special card to Thai citizens frequently traveling to Malaysia which they could use instead of a passport.

He said Malaysians traveling to neighboring Singapore and vice versa would also no longer need to bring along their passports but would only need their identity cards. --AFP