Banning Chinese tourists will have an adverse effect on the country's economy
Tourism industry players suggested China tourists should travel with registered travel agencies to ensure health safety - photo by 123rf
China’s tourist arrivals to Malaysia are the sixth highest after Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand.
Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (Mita) President, Uzaidi Udanis, said that the Chinese visitors have strong spending power and could contribute to the economy.
"On average, they spent USD 2,500 (RM11,012) per person, a lot more compared to other foreign visitors.
"It will be a huge loss for us if we restrict them. I think it's irrelevant to do so even though there were certain parties who insisted on restricting their arrival," he said.
Since Malaysians have learned to live with and manage Covid-19 infection for the last two years, Uzaidi said the public is already accustomed to the safety practises of managing the virus.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Association of Travel and Tours president, Datuk Tan Kok Liang expressed that Malaysia is a safe destination for travel and tourism.
"China was the third largest source market for international arrivals into Malaysia before the pandemic.
"In 2019, China's tourist arrivals alone accounted for 3.1 million travellers. For 2023, it will depend wholly on government policy on entry requirements and health protocols to contain the Covid-19 virus.
"With that, there must be a standard operational procedure (SOP) in place, as advised by the Health Ministry, to ensure the pandemic Covid-19 is contained," he said when contacted.
"I believe that travellers should comply with the regulations applied by both countries, and they should go back to the basics of what had been done two years ago," Tan said.
