Perak Wants Charter Flights To Draw Tourists From China

KAMPAR, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- The Perak state government wants to introduce special charter flights from China to draw more tourists from the republic.

State Tourism, Arts, Culture, Multimedia and Communications Committee chairman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi said the move could attract more tourists from China especially in the light of Visit Perak Year 2017.

She was commenting on visa exemption for tourists from China as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when presenting the recalibrated Budget 2016 in Putrajaya on Thursday.

She was speaking to reporters after handing over ownership grants for a village structured settlement scheme at Tanjung Bangkong, Malim Nawar here Saturday.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, when announcing the recalibration of the 2016 budget, said tourists from China need not obtain a visa to visit Malaysia from March 1 to Dec 31, 2016.

Meanwhile, in KUALA TERENGGANU, the visa exemption was seen as a boon to the tourism industry and economy in the state.

State Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafee said, in line with the announcement too, the state government was now planning to introduce numerous facilities, including increasing return flights, to lure more tourists from China.

"Other than increasing the entry of China's tourists, bilateral trade will continue to go up and exchange of technology will continue to expand," he said when contacted by Bernama, here, today.

In SANDAKAN, Sandakan Tourism Association chairman Johnny Lim said visa exemption for China nationals to Malaysia would boost their presence in Sabah, which was currently negligible in the district.

In this regard, he hoped the move to get direct flights to Sabah from destinations in China could be realised.

In the meantime, Kinabatangan-Corridor of Life Tourism Operators Association chairman Alexander Yee said the association would identify the specific conditions for visits not exceeding 15 days to brief members before the move was enforced in March.
-bernama.