The Government should look into waiving entrance and visa fees to attract more tourists, especially those from China, as they make up a large segment of Malaysia’s tourist population, said the newly-appointed Tourism Malaysia chairman Wee Choo Keong.
Wee, who took over from Tan Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen, added that tourists from China tended to have lavish spending habits and often purchased large numbers of souvenirs during their visits here.
“The average per person expenditure by Chinese tourists in Malaysia during the first quarter of 2015 is RM3,401. This is a lot of money for one person,” he told The Star.
However, he said the MH370 disaster has had an adverse effect on the local tourism industry, with many travellers, especially those from China, now sidestepping Malaysia as a holiday destination.
Tourism Malaysia will need to elevate its efforts in order to win them back, he said.
To do that, Wee said that Tourism Malaysia is currently working with Government agencies, especially the Immigration Department to look into visa exemption for countries whose citizens frequently visit Malaysia.
Wee shared they were also working with overseas tour operators and airlines such as Etihad, AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines on joint promotions in other countries.
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