State Transport, Project Rehabilitation and International Trade Committee Chairman Lim Ban Hong said the move was still being discussed with several airlines in Hainan, which had shown a positive response.
“This is the state government’s plan to boost the tourism sector and the state’s economy.
“It is also in line with the federal government’s goal to attract eight million tourists from China within the next five years,” he told reporters at the Hyatt Place hotel and service apartment groundbreaking ceremony in Pulau Melaka here last night.
He said the direct charter flights would also provide accommodation and tour packages to attractive destinations in the country with the cooperation of travel companies in Malacca and Hainan.
Lim said the tour packages were expected to boost the state’s tourism industry, including hotels, food and souvenir industries.
He said, in the future, there was a plan to extend the direct flight to Quangxi, which is located in southern China.
“The state government welcomes any party or airline that wants to do direct or charter flights to the state, especially from China.”
He said the Chinese market was one of the largest markets for tourist arrivals in Malaysia, which could boost the state tourism sector.