The daily said local tour groups expect 150,000 Chinese people to visit the country during the Lunar New Year, an increase of between 20 and 30% from last year’s total arrival of 200,000 Chinese tourists.
Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (MITA) deputy president Mint Leong said the Chinese tourists are expected to arrive in the first week of the Chinese New Year holidays.
“Hotels in Sabah are fully booked. They love Malaysia because of our sunshine and beaches,” she said.
Another MITA exco member, Lee Yong Hui, told Sin Chew Daily he expected the number of Chinese tourists coming here this year to hit the 400,000 mark, double the amount last year.
“We had 200,000 tourists last year. Despite the economic downturn, the tourism industry is making a profit,” he said.
He added that the rise in tourist arrivals was due to airline companies adding more flights between Chinese cities and Malaysia.
Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) president Albert Tan told Sin Chew Daily that Malaysia is a top destinination for the Chinese because it is affordable here.
Tan, however, said not many Malaysians are travelling abroad this Lunar season as they tighten their belts.