Malaysia's Johor Targets One Million Chinese Tourists With Introduction Of Guangzhou-JB Route

KULAI (Johor, Malaysia), May 30 (Bernama) -- The Malaysia's Johor state government is targeting one million tourist arrivals from China this year with the introduction of the Guangzhou-Johor Baharu route by AirAsia. Tourism, Trade and Consumerism Committee chairman Tee Siew Kiong is confident the southern state would receive more tourists from China and thus boost the tourism sector. "I expect tourists arrivals from China to increase by 30 percent this year to more than one million people," he told reporters after welcoming passengers of the inaugural flight from Guangzhou to Johor Baharu, the capital city of Johor at Senai International Airport (SIA), here Monday. Tee said AsiaAsia Berhad took timely action in introducing the route in line with the rising number of tourists, traders and investors from China, especially Guangzhou. "This initiative can shorten the traveling time by three hours and facilitate arrival the people of both cities," he added. The Guangzhou-Johor Baharu flight arrived at 6.50am on Monday with 176 passengers comprising 95 percent Chinese nationals while the rest were Malaysians. Tourist arrivals from China rose from 628,087 in 2014 to 797,862 people last year (2015) or an increase of 169,775 people. --BERNAMA