KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — Malaysia has received 1,185,050 visitors from China as of May, a 194 per cent increase from the same period last year, said Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
He attributed the increase to visa-free travel between both countries.
“I sincerely encourage all airlines to seize this chance by expanding their connectivity between Malaysia and various countries to provide more convenience and options for travellers worldwide, for a win-win situation,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Tiong also announced the launch of AirAsia’s inaugural direct flights from Ningbo, China, to Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu, which will operate three times a week using the 180-seat Airbus A320 aircraft.
He said the direct routes will help draw travellers, particularly from Zhejiang and other regions of China, to Malaysia.
In November last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a 30-day visa exemption for China and India tourists effective December 1.
The initiative was reciprocated by China’s agreement to extend visa exemption for Malaysian tourists from 15 to 30 days, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations on May 31.
— Bernama
