By DayakDaily Team
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9: Malaysia’s air connectivity with China has seen a significant boost, with flight frequencies now reaching 502 per week, offering 102,343 seats.
This expansion includes new direct routes to major Chinese cities such as Beijing, Changsha, Xiamen, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Haikou, Kunming, Zhangjiajie, and Zhengzhou.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Dato Seri Tiong King Sing, highlighted these developments in a Facebook post after attending the 10th anniversary celebration of the Malaysian Inbound Chinese Association (MICA) recently.
He underscored the importance of enhanced air travel in achieving Malaysia’s goal of welcoming six million Chinese tourists as the country gears up for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
“This journey reminds me of the Malay saying, ‘Kapal berbeza, haluan yang sama’ (Different ships, same course), a fitting metaphor for our enduring bilateral friendship,” he said.
Reflecting on the success of the 30-day visa-free entry for Chinese tourists introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on December 1, 2023, Tiong noted a remarkable rise in visitor numbers, further strengthening ties between the two nations.
Tiong also acknowledged Malaysia’s growing appeal to Muslim tourists, citing the welcoming of the country’s first group of 35 Chinese Muslim visitors in 2024—a figure that has more than doubled this year.
He credited collaboration with the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) for developing innovative tourism offerings that honour Malaysia and China’s shared heritage.
“I encourage ITC to continue its efforts in expanding a diverse and competitive range of Muslim-friendly tourism products.
“Given the deep-rooted Muslim heritage of both Malaysia and China, it is vital to leverage our cultural and linguistic connections to foster initiatives that enhance mutual cultural and artistic exchanges,” he added. – DayakDaily
