SHAH ALAM - The call by some parties for the government to restrict the entry of tourists from China is considered irrational and responsible.
Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Datuk Tan Kok Liang asked the parties to stop excessively speculations on the news about the republic, which allowed its citizens to travel abroad.
Since the beginning of 2022, Tan said the government had been well prepared to deal with the influx of foreign tourists.
"Matta has complete faith in the Health Ministry to manage Chinese tourists as they do for tourists from other countries.
"Since the reopening of our borders in early 2022, our country has made steady and positive progress towards recovery," he said in a statement on Monday.
Previously, Pas Information head Khairil Nizam Khirudin requested that the government temporarily suspend the entry of tourists from China following the increase in the number of cases of epidemic infections that surged in the republic.
He explained that Malaysia needed to learn from the spread of the epidemic in 2020 when there were no measures to prevent the entry of tourists at risk of carrying Covid-19.
Chinese authorities previously announced permission for its citizens to travel abroad without having to provide travel details.
Meanwhile, Tan added a total of 3.1 million tourists from the republic were recorded to have travelled in 2019, which made it the third largest number in the national market.
"In 2023, it is expected that about 1.2 million Chinese tourists will come to Malaysia and the country is predicted to generate an income of RM3.6 billion through this presence," he explained.
He said Matta hoped that the government could provide a decision that balanced the security and economic aspects of the country.
"The government's decision should balance the health and well-being of the people and Malaysia's reputation as a safe destination as well as its economic impact in this matter," he said.