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KUCHING, July 6: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) is encouraging Chinese tourists to consider Sabah and Sarawak as their primary entry points into the country due to the Borneo states’ tourist-friendly immigration authorities.
Matta president Tan Kok Liang suggested this while expressing his hope that Chinese tourists will not be discouraged from visiting Malaysia following the recent incident at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), where a female Chinese national reportedly encountered some issues with Immigration Department officers on arrival and was denied entry into Malaysia.
According to Free Malaysia Today and Daily Express reports, Tan expressed concerns about the negative impact the incident has had on Malaysia’s reputation as a safe and preferred destination for Chinese tourists and others.
“Such incidents only happen in Peninsular Malaysia, particularly at KLIA. The government should bear this in mind as part of its damage control measures.
“We hope Chinese tourists will not shy away from Malaysia due to this unfortunate fiasco, which has been viralled and received widespread attention all over China,” he was quoted as saying in the reports today.
Tan expressed confidence that the Chinese tourists will definitely enjoy peace of mind and receive a warm welcome in the Borneo states.
He highlighted the tourist-friendly nature of immigration authorities in the Borneo states and their consistent collaboration with tourism stakeholders to ensure smooth immigration clearance.
“We hope that the various ministries will work closely with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture to strengthen Malaysia’s position as a key tourism destination, and we anticipate more positive changes to the industry in the coming months,” he added. — DayakDaily
