India the next tourism priority

CLICK TO ENLARGE. The ministry said that in the same period in 2019 - a year before the Covid-19 pandemic crippled the tourism industry worldwide - Malaysia registered 354,486 travellers from the South Asian nation. ALSO READ: Spot checks at Tourism Malaysia helpdesk counters. Facing some questions over the concentration of promotions in China, Tiong said the Tourism Malaysia Strategic Direction Plan for 2024-2026 outlined target markets based on priority levels. For all these markets, Tiong said Tourism Malaysia will continue to create demand, increase traffic, and prioritise marketing to meet tourist arrival targets. Airlines such as AirAsia, Batik Air, Firefly and Malaysia Airlines, along with foreign carriers like China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines and Xiamen Airlines, have enhanced connectivity with various Malaysian cities including Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Tawau. A 2023 Tourism Malaysia survey revealed that 47.3% of Chinese tourists prefer Sabah for its beaches and world-class dive spots like Sipadan Island. During Chinese Premier Li Qiang's three-day official visit in June, both countries stated that China had agreed to extend its visa exemption facility for Malaysian citizens until the end of 2025, while Malaysia will do likewise for Chinese citizens until the end of 2026.