Visa-Free Entry For Chinese Tourist Helps Achieve Tourist Target By 2020 - Nazri

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is convinced that its target of receiving 36 million tourist arrivals by 2020 will be achieved with the implementation of visa-exemption and e-visa system for tourists from China, said Minister of Tourism and Culture Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.

Responding to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's remarks yesterday, Mohamed Nazri said the arrival of Chinese tourists could help achieve the target and a revenue of RM168 billion from tourist receipts.

"I foresee this new arrangement with China will help Malaysia to achieve its target of tourist arrivals especially from China, and if we can get half of them, we are actually getting closer to our main target of tourist arrivals by the year 2020," he told a press conference here today.

Yesterday, Ahmad Zahid was quoted as saying that with a target to attract eight million Chinese tourists over five years, the government had made it easier for them to come to Malaysia as the competition to attract them was very stiff, with Thailand and Indonesia also after Chinese tourists.

At the conference, Mohamed Nazri also confirmed the appointment of singer Shila Amzah as Malaysia's Tourism Ambassador.

"She was chosen because she can sing and communicate in Chinese very well and that's the main reason why we appoint her as our ambassador," he said.

Earlier, the minister launched the Tourism Malaysia's new consumer and corporate website, www.malaysia.travel, on the sideline of Tourism Malaysia Directors Retreat 2016.

The website is in line with Tourism Malaysia's continuous efforts to improve and move forward to cater to the needs of consumers and travellers.

"I believe this rebranding exercise will help lift the Tourism Malaysia's online status to the next level and promote the country's tourism more efficiently and effectively," he said.

Also present were his deputy Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Tourism Malaysia chairman Wee Choo Keong and director-general Datuk Seri Mirza Mohammad Taiyab.
-bernama.