SHANGHAI: Malaysia is expected to receive more Chinese tourists next year for Malaysia Year of Festival 2015.
“I was informed by tourist agents that the number of bookings for tour packages to Malaysia next year are high,” said Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.
He said despite the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 and the kidnapping incidents in Sabah, Chinese tourists had resumed holiday trips to Malaysia. He thanked Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who vowed to help resume Chinese tourist arrivals to Malaysia during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s visit in May.
Nazri, who was speaking after officiating MyFest 2015 here yesterday, said Malaysia was ranked the fourth best shopping paradise in the world. Apart from competitively priced high-end products, Nazri said Malaysia also offered authentic Malaysian Chinese cuisine.
Malaysia Inbound Tourism Association vice-president Datuk Dr Angie Ng expressed confidence that inbound tourists from China would increase between five and six per cent next year. She said the total travel spending in Malaysia was far lower as compared with Hong Kong.
Malaysia aims to attract 29.4 million tourist arrivals and collect tourism receipts totalling RM89 billion next year. Bernama