Penang Eyes Big Growth In Chinese Tourist Arrivals With Visa Fee Waiver

By Samantha Tan Chiew Ting GEORGE TOWN (Penang, Malaysia), Jan 21 (Bernama) -- Tourism Malaysia Penang expects a big growth in tourist arrivals from China into the state following the visa fee waiver. State director Harun Pilus said the timely announcement would attract more Chinese tourists especially with the Malaysia Year of Festivals and Visit Penang Year 2015 campaigns. "Penang received 72,957 Chinese tourists via air and sea last year from 61,924 tourists in 2013. We hope with the free visa, 2015 will bring a remarkable number of arrivals to Penang," he told Bernama here Wednesday. Furthermore, he said, the free visa would ensure Tourism Malaysia achieve its key performance index this year as the agency targets overall arrivals to Malaysia at 29.4 million tourists and receipts of US$24.62 billion (RM89 billion). According to Harun, China is the fourth contributor to Malaysia's tourist arrivals in 2013 and 2014 after Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. "Malaysia received 1,386,053 Chinese tourists between January and October last year, a drop of 11.2 per cent from the same period in 2013. "Therefore, we hope the free visa for Chinese tourists would boost tourist arrivals thus strengthening bilateral ties between Malaysia and China," he added. Harun said it was reported that international trips by Chinese travellers is expected to exceed 100 million this year. He said with many people travelling as free independent travellers (FITs) and at short notice, airlines should immediately add more flights and routes especially with promotional fares. "The Chinese economy is doing well and they are quality tourists who have higher disposable income. This free visa will bring a big number of Chinese expatriates and their families visiting Malaysia," he said. Following the initiatives, Harun said local tour agents should give more competitive prices and collaborate with related tourism agencies in promoting Malaysia to attract more Chinese tourists. "The local tour agents could also design value-added packages for the same price offered before the visa fee waiver," he added. -- BERNAMA