Tourists cruise on Malacca river in Malacca, Malaysia, Sept. 19, 2020. | Xinhua Photo
Malaysia is projected to attract 27.3 million tourists in 2024, said the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) at the 9th Malaysia Business Event Week 2024 (MBEW 2024) on Tuesday.
The week-long MBEW 2024 from August 19 to 23 held in Kuala Lumpur, was officially launched by the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB).
In her welcome speech at the opening ceremony of MBEW 2024 on Tuesday (August 20), Dr. Yasmeen binti Yasim, deputy secretary-general (Tourism) of MOTAC, noted that the country has been a preferred destination for tourists worldwide for many years. Malaysia received more than 20 million tourists last year, making an important contribution to the Malaysian economy.
In the first half of this year, the number of international tourists visiting Malaysia increased by 28.9% year-on-year, an increase of about 2.65 million compared with the first half of last year.
Dr. Yasmeen said in order to achieve the goal, the Ministry is working to strengthen infrastructure, develop diversified products, and promote innovation and digitalization to enhance tourists' travel experience.
A scenery of Langkawi Sky Bridge in Malaysia on April 26, 2024. | CFP Photo
According to statistics from the Malaysian Immigration Department and Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, some 1.45 million Chinese tourists entered Malaysia in the first half of this year, which nearly doubled over the same period last year.
Chinese tourists accounted for about 12.3% of the total number of international tourists in Malaysia in the first half of the year. China became the third largest source of tourists for Malaysia.
Officials from the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture believe that the mutual visa exemption between Malaysia and China is a critical factor for the rapid growth of Chinese tourists.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has paid high attention to the Chinese market.
In addition, the Archaeological Heritage of Niah National Park's Caves Complex, located in Miri Division, Sarawak was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage sites three weeks ago, adding a new tourism highlight to the country.
According to officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia, in the second half of this year, the weekly passenger volume of direct flights from China to Malaysia will exceed 100,000. The number of Chinese tourists arriving in Malaysia is expected to increase further in the second half of the year.
Reporter: Clonde Zhang, Sophia Chen (Intern)
Editor: Steven, Monica, James
