Xplore Johor promotion targets one million Chinese tourists

GUANGZHOU: Johor is going all out to achieving its target of one million Chinese tourist arrivals this year with six tourism packages being promoted to some 243.4 million population in three provinces in China.

Led by state Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong (pic), a group of 15 delegates from the Johor Tourism Department and industry players have embarked on an eight-day Xplore Johor programme tourism mission to meet its counterparts here between June 23 and June 30.

Tee said that Johor tourism industry players have come up with six types of 4-days, 3-nights packages to highlight Johor’s beautiful islands, theme parks as well as splendid shopping experience.

“The family-oriented packages also incorporates popular sight-seeing spots in Malacca and Port Dickson and tourists can also opt for packages with visits to Singapore and Indonesia.

“The key point is that all the packages have been outlined in such a way that the tourist will start and end their vacation in Johor Baru,” he said during a promotional event attended by 60 Chinese travel agencies here on Friday.

He added that with the availability of AirAsia’s new daily, direct flights between Guangzhou and Johor Baru, the state government is optimistic about the good response for the packages from Chinese tourists.

He said that the direct flight has opened up a new window for the Johor tourism industry as it no longer have to wait for Chinese tourists to arrive via Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.

“I have personally taken the low-budget flight to Guangzhou with my family and the rest of the delegates and I am glad to say there were no qualms and we arrived ahead of schedule,” he said.

Tee also said that China was the fourth country with direct flights to Johor Baru, following flights launched for routes to Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand in the past few years.

“The Xplore Johor promotion in the Guangdong, Hei Long Jiang and Shandong provinces with population count of 107.2 million, 38.3 million and 97.9 million respectively is in line with our move towards tapping into second-tier cities,” he added.

He stressed that the state government’s active involvement in promoting the industry has reinforced tourists’ confidence.

“Our proactive ways of going to the ground to conduct this kind of events have in some ways convinced tourists that we welcome and care for them,” he said.

-thestar online.