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Published: Tuesday October 28, 2014 MYT 12:00:00 AM
Updated: Tuesday October 28, 2014 MYT 7:12:26 AM
MATTA calls for visa exemption for tourists from China
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has called for short-term visa exemption for tourists from China.
Its president Hamzah Rahmat said MATTA hoped that visa exemption would be granted to these tourists from now until May next year to boost tourist arrivals, especially during Chinese New Year.
He said statistics showed that Chinese tourist arrivals had registered a significant drop of 11.8% from January to July this year, following the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 and the spate of kidnappings in Sabah.
“Visa exemption should be granted to help restore confidence in Malaysia as a safe, affordable and attractive holiday destination,” said Hamzah in a press statement.
He said Japan recorded an average growth rate of 25.6% in tourist arrivals from July to December last year following the implementation of the visa-exempt rule.
As for Thailand, he said it had doubled the length of stay for tourists from its visa-exempt countries in response to falling tourism numbers due to street protests and political instability.
Based on a United Nations World Tourism Organisation report, Hamzah said tourists from China spent US$102bil (RM333bil) on international tourism in 2012 and US$120bil (RM392bil) in 2013.
“The Economist reported that nearly one in 10 international tourists worldwide is from China.
“Visa exemptions will help to boost tourist arrivals and provide a much-needed stimulus to the local economy,” he added.
The call by MATTA has received the thumbs up from Tourism Malaysia chairman Tan Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen.
“Thailand has issued visa exemption for Chinese tourists this year and already, you can see the figures shooting up drastically. So, I welcome this suggestion.
“The Chinese are travelling to other destinations so any facilitation for the next six months or one year in terms of visa exemption will be a boost,” she said.
Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said he supported any measures to promote tourism in the country.
He urged MATTA to work closely with the tourism authorities and Foreign Ministry in luring visitors to Malaysia.
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发表于 2014-10-29 09:12:18
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