HomeNewsBeritaBusinessLifestyleOpinionWorldSportsPropertyEducationCarzillaGalleryVideosAccelerator

Malaysia to draw 8 million Chinese tourists annually

-

Government to give special allocations to relevant tourism agencies like Tourism Malaysia in an effort to hit targets.

0
Shares
Total Views: 1

zahid-hamidi
ALOR GAJAH: Malaysia has set a target to annually draw eight million Chinese tourists with a RM22.1 billion spending power over the next five years, said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said the figure of eight million would seem huge compared to the 1.3 million Chinese tourists presently visiting Malaysia annually, but that it was not impossible to attain with proper planning and effective promotions.

“The RM22.1 billion spending power may seem very big, but it is not impossible to garner because each Chinese tourist spends on the average RM3,345 now on food, lodging and shopping,” he said when opening the Freeport A’Famosa Outlet that offers fashion, sports and accessories brands.

Melaka Chief Minister Idris Haron, Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin and A’Famosa Group managing director Alex Lau were also present at the event.

Zahid said that although Malaysia recorded a large number of tourist arrivals last year, the government wanted to focus on attracting tourists from certain countries over the next five years.

He said drastic measures must be taken to draw tourists to Malaysia because tourist spending in the country would have an immediate effect on the national economy.

“Our country, like our regional neighbours and others, depends on the production and sale of petroleum for its revenue, and has suffered a drastic drop in revenue and economic growth.

“As such, the presence of tourists with their spending power will give an immediate effect to national economic growth, because we find that their spending habits have a positive impact on the economy of our country,” he said.

Zahid said relevant agencies, such as Tourism Malaysia, would obtain supplementary allocations in the effort to enhance the national tourism sector.

The supplementary allocations were important to step up tourism advertisement and promotional activities, he said, adding that these efforts were seen as necessary to raise the national revenue more effectively.

Zahid said every sen of the allocations to enhance the tourism sector should be expended effectively and be used for improving the national economy.

He also said that Malaysians who were icons abroad— such as singer-songwriter, actress and record producer Shila Amzah who is based in Hong Kong, China— were seen as having great potential to help promote the country’s tourism industry.

He said Malaysia gave ample room for private tourism entrepreneurs to thrive but they had to be given assistance, particularly by tourism agencies such as Tourism Malaysia.

“It is hoped that tourism-related agencies will also promote other states abroad, without solely depending on the state governments to do this, because everything is for the good of the Malaysian tourism sector,” he said.

Zahid praised the Melaka government for its efforts, which resulted in the state registering over 15 million tourist arrivals last year.

– BERNAMA

Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.