PUTRAJAYA: Those concerned about the expected influx of travellers from China have been urged not to jeopardise Malaysia’s relations with that country or our own economic recovery with pointed remarks or calls for a hard-line policy.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the public should refrain from making negative comments regarding the arrival of tourists from China, especially on social media.
He said Malaysia enjoyed long-standing and close relations with China and the bond between the two countries must not be broken.
“There have been some negative reports on social media platforms regarding China’s decision to reopen its borders, but I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to everyone to be cautious with their words.
“Please do not make unfriendly comments before you know the full picture, and don’t hurt the friendship between Malaysia and China or create an impression that we don’t welcome them.
“Regardless of any problems or doubts, people from both sides should use the correct channels, communicate, discuss good strategies, find a win-win solution, and face them together,” he added.
Tiong also took the opportunity to thank the leadership of China and its people for their support of Malaysia, with the country emerging as one of the top 10 overseas destinations for Chinese travellers.
“With the reopening of China’s borders, it is believed this will inject vitality into the economic development of various fields,” he said.
The Health Ministry recently announced a number of Covid-19 controls, including conducting polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing on sewage samples from aircraft arriving from China and increasing surveillance at international entry points for travellers from China.
Several countries such as Japan, India, the United States, Italy and Taiwan have imposed mandatory Covid-19 testing for travellers arriving from China.
The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has also urged various quarters here to stop overreacting to the return of travellers from China.
Its president Datuk Tan Kok Liang said calls to close Malaysia’s borders to Chinese travellers this early would be severely irrational and irresponsible.
“Since the reopening of our borders in early 2022, our country has been making steady, positive progress towards recovery.
“Any knee-jerk reaction to re- introduce sudden restrictions without proper planning risks undoing all that we have achieved so far,” he said in a press statement yesterday.
Tan said he was confident in Malaysian government agencies’ ability to manage the expected surge of Chinese travellers.
“Chinese travellers won’t arrive all at once, which will allow the government to monitor and manage the situation as it develops.
“MATTA has complete faith in the Health Ministry in managing Chinese arrivals, just as it has done with other travellers from all over the world,” he said.
He added that the government should make its decision on the issue based on its own consideration of the economic effects of a hard-line policy, as well as Malaysia’s own capacity and limitations, rather than immediately giving in to certain groups’ demands.
Data from Tourism Malaysia indicates that 3.1 million Chinese tourists visited Malaysia in 2019, making it the country’s third largest source market of international arrivals.
Initial estimates indicate that at least 1.2 million Chinese will travel to Malaysia in 2023, which is expected to generate about RM3.6bil in tourism receipts.
