KUCHING: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) is in discussions with China’s Southern and Eastern airlines to increase flight routes to the state capital to enhance travel convenience for tourists, says minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
He said the the Guangdong Tourism Association is exploring options such as charter flight packages to strengthen business connections and promote Malaysian tourism.
“The Association proposed establishing a permanent venue in the Greater Bay Area to promote Malaysian tourism, tapping into the region’s vast market potential of 87 million residents and 220 million in air traffic.
“Additionally, considering that the Singapore-Malaysia travel route remains a mainstream product, the Association plans to focus on niche Malaysian island tours, such as the Perhentian Islands, to attract younger and northern Chinese tourists,” he said in a Facebook post on Thursday.
Tiong added that both his ministry and the association have agreed to leverage the opportunities presented by next year’s ASEAN Summit and Visit Malaysia Year 2026 to foster bilateral tourism cooperation and achieve mutual benefits.
During discussions with the Association, he highlighted Sarawak’s unique tourism offerings, including Southeast Asia’s largest museum in Kuching, the Niah Caves in Miri recently designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Mount Mulu.
Meanwhile, Guangdong Tourism Association president Jack Goo suggested that Guangdong Travel Service and Guangdong Youth Travel Service could leverage their expertise in group and inbound tourism to assist in promoting Malaysian tourism products.
He also introduced the “Dynamic Guangdong” platform currently under development, which provides a one-stop service for cultural and tourism promotion and could serve as a channel for promoting Malaysia in the future.
The Association also shared insights into immersive experience projects in technology innovation and cultural performances, suggesting potential collaboration with Malaysia to jointly launch more appealing tourism products.
