There was a drop in Chinese tourist arrivals during the recent Golden Week in China and MATTA president Datuk Tan Kok Liang says the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, as well as the private sector, needs to take stock and respond to the changing trends and preferences of Chinese tourists.
The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) has called for urgent action to draw Chinese tourists back to Malaysia.
There was a drop in Chinese tourist arrivals during the recent Golden Week in China and MATTA president Datuk Tan Kok Liang says the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, as well as the private sector, needs to take stock and respond to the changing trends and preferences of Chinese tourists.
Tan said Malaysia faced enormous competition for the business of Chinese tourists, and while countries such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam were increasing their share of the growth in Chinese overseas travel, Malaysia was missing out.
“We need to revisit our tourism fundamentals to stay competitive, and this includes a review of our visa policy, welcome experience at the airport, and more outlets with mobile payment facilities, such as Alipay and WeChat Pay, to make Chinese tourists feel at home.”
Tan added that Chinese visitors should be offered better tour experiences rather than the traditional sightseeing photo-shoot.
“Chinese tourists are getting increasingly sophisticated, looking for in-depth local experiences and unique travel activities. Malaysia needs to up its game in identifying what different markets want, and promoting it accordingly,” Tan said.
He added, “Travel industry players, particularly inbound agents, are very adept at identifying market needs and the creativity to capture market share.
“We acknowledge the current government has a massive debt to repay, but somehow the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture needs to continue its marketing and promotion activities aggressively in China and be given adequate funding in tourism infrastructure.
“To a large extent the local economy is highly dependent on Chinese tourists and we hope the government will prioritise funding and tourism incentives for this sector.”