Visa waiver to boost tourism in Malaysia

More Chinese, Indian visitors expected to arrive, spurring country's economy

Malaysia may see a boost in its tourism revenues in the next few months as its visa-free travel that started on Friday may entice more Chinese and Indians to visit the country.

The increased revenues can help prop up Southeast Asia's third-biggest economy, offsetting a slowdown in exports, analysts say.

"If there is a sudden surge in Chinese and Indian travelers for both leisure and business because of the visa-free travel, it's going to move the needle," Wan Suhaimie Wan Mohd Saidie, head of economic research at Kenanga Investment Bank in Malaysia, said.