Malaysia: The most popular travel destination for Chinese

KATHMANDU, Dec 22: According to statistics from the Malaysia Tourism Board, over 2.5 million Chinese tourists visited Malaysia between January and September 2024, which has already exceeded the number of tourist arrivals for the entire year of 2023. Malaysia becomes one of the most popular travel destinations for Chinese.

A latest report by online travel platform Agoda indicates a significant increase in interest from international tourists to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Malaysia. Official estimates predict that the number of tourists will grow by the end of the year, with Chinese tourist arrivals potentially reaching 5 million for the whole year.

Cities like Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Langkawi, Penang, Tawau, and Semporna are popular among Chinese tourists. One of the main reasons is the large proportion of ethnic Chinese in Malaysia, making Mandarin communication seamless. In cities like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Malacca, local Chinese also speak Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka, and other dialects. Deputy Director of the Malaysia Tourism Board, Li Taikang, said he hopes Chinese visitors feel at home during their stay.

Traveling to Malaysia has become extremely convenient, with direct flights not only to the capital Kuala Lumpur but also to cities like Penang and Kota Kinabalu. The growing air routes between China and Malaysia connects cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong, making it possible to reach Malaysia in about five hours.

To cater to younger travellers, several airlines have introduced “red-eye flights.” According to 《Caijing》 magazine, many young people from the Greater Bay Area choose to depart on Friday evenings, spend the weekend in Penang, and return on Sunday night, without affecting normal work on Monday.

The year 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia. In this regard, Malaysia has introduced a visa-free policy for Chinese citizens staying up to 30 days. Since June 1, Chinese tourists have been able to use automated e-gates for entry and exit, eliminating the need to queue for manual processing. This has made travelling to Malaysia more convenience.

Following the government’s announcement of the visa-free policy, Malaysia’s tourism enterprises have been actively strategizing its market. In collaboration with the government, they aim to boost the development of the tourism industry and prepare for the “Visit Malaysia 2025” campaign, aiming to welcome 23.5 million international visitors by 2025. (APD News)