Malaysia targets eight million Chinese tourists annually 

Malaysia has set a target to attract eight million Chinese tourists a year over the next five years with a purchasing power of MYR22.1bn ($5.24bn), said Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He added that Chinese tourists spend an average of MYR3,345 ($792) on food, accommodation and shopping and around 1.3 million Chinese tourists currently visit Malaysia annually, but with sound planning and effective promotions, he believes both ambitious targets can be achieved. The government has also just announced that visitors from China will be allowed to enter Malaysia visa-free from March to December this year in a bid to boost tourist numbers. 

BEIJING: Tourism industry players in China applauded the move to scrap the visa requirement for Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia from March to December this year.

They said the move, announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, would make it more convenient for Chinese tourists.