PENANG, 1 August 2024 –
Passengers on board flight FM877 arriving at Penang International Airport today
from Shanghai were welcomed by YBhg. Dato' Yeoh Soon Hin, Deputy Chairman of
Tourism Malaysia, alongside representatives from Malaysia Airports Holdings
Berhad (MAHB), Penang Global Tourism (PGT) and Shanghai Airlines. The aircraft
received a ceremonial water salute upon its arrival, symbolising the strong
ties between the two destinations.
Shanghai Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Eastern
Airlines headquartered in Shanghai, currently operates seven weekly flights to
Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu. This new service connecting Shanghai and Penang
will run three times a week using a Boeing 738 aircraft with a capacity of 168
passengers.
The new route is expected to significantly enhance tourist
traffic and strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and China, offering
more convenient travel options and fostering closer ties between the two
nations. The expansion of routes from China resulted from YB Dato Sri Tiong
King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture's efforts during his official
working visit to China, which has yielded positive outcomes.
Since the implementation of the visa-free policy for Chinese
travellers on 1 December 2023, Malaysia has witnessed a remarkable surge in
tourist arrivals. As of May 2024, the country has welcomed 1,185,050 visitors
from China, reflecting an astounding 194% increase compared to the same period
in 2023, which recorded 403,121 arrivals.
The introduction of this new route presents an excellent
opportunity to attract more tourists from various cities across China. Tourism
Malaysia remains dedicated to forming strategic partnerships and collaborations
with international airlines to boost promotional efforts and stimulate travel
demand from China.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.