Tourism Malaysia expresses confidence in meeting its ambitious goal of 27.3 million foreign tourist arrivals for the year, buoyed by various favorable conditions.
The government’s charter flight matching grant incentive, coupled with the visa liberalization program and intensified international tourism promotion efforts, stand as pillars supporting this optimistic outlook.
Ammar Abd Ghapar, the director-general of Tourism Malaysia, highlighted that the nation welcomed over 20 million foreign tourists last year, substantially exceeding the initial target of 19.1 million.
He emphasized the importance of encouraging more charter flights to Malaysia, recognizing the necessity for expanded routes and increased flight frequencies to reach the desired tourist influx.
Speaking to reporters upon the arrival of passengers on Malaysia Airlines’ inaugural flight from Shenyang Taoxian International Airport, Shenyang, Liaoning, China, Ammar underscored the significance of the charter flight matching grant in augmenting flight frequency to Malaysia.
The presence of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing during the event further underscored the government’s commitment to the tourism sector’s growth.
Ammar also noted the substantial impact of the visa liberalization plan for Chinese travelers, effective December 1, 2023, which has stimulated a surge in inquiries and bookings from China to Malaysia.
Citing Trip.com’s report, he revealed a notable 53.9% increase in inbound travel to Malaysia from China during the Chinese New Year compared to the previous year. In line with these developments, Tourism Malaysia has set its sights on attracting approximately 200,000 tourist arrivals from China monthly.
With these supportive measures and encouraging trends, Tourism Malaysia remains optimistic about achieving its tourism targets and further solidifying the nation’s position as a premier tourist destination in the region.
