Thanks to a visa-free travel policy, Malaysia welcomed 1.18 million Chinese tourists between January and May, a 194% increase over the same period the previous year.
The introduction of visa-free travel between the two nations is credited with the notable increase, according to Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who was quoted by The Star.
For Chinese nationals, Malaysia has extended its 30-day visa-free access period until 2026, having begun granting it in December of last year.
“I encourage all airlines to (take advantage of) this trend by expanding connectivity to provide more convenience and options for travellers worldwide, creating a win-win situation,” he wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday.
When compared to other neighbours, Malaysia still receives a relatively small number of Chinese visitors.
In the first five months of this year, Vietnam saw 1.6 million Chinese tourists, while Thailand saw 2.91 million Chinese travellers.
Before the COVID-19 epidemic, China was the world’s largest outbound tourism market, and Southeast Asian nations lately competed for their tourists’ return.
