Speaking at the 2024 China International Travel Mart in Shanghai yesterday, Tiong said he is aware of the Chinese tourists’ predicament.

“This issue is closely being monitored by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who has instructed relevant departments to strictly enhance tourism safety measures and to ensure that every visitor has a pleasant and memorable experience.

“On behalf of the Malaysian government, I sincerely apologise for any shortcomings and offer our deepest apologies to the Chinese tourists affected,” he said, according to a copy of the speech text received by the media.

The statement, however, did not detail any specific incident or shortcomings that Chinese tourists had complained about, on their visit to Malaysia.

Tiong also gave his assurance that the government is committed to improving tourism safety and visitor experiences.

“We will continue to work closely with all parties involved to strengthen our tourism services and enhance the overall visitor experience,” he said.

The minister has been actively promoting Malaysia as a prime destination for Chinese travellers, having set a target to attract five million Chinese tourists in 2024.

As of June 2024, Malaysia welcomed 1,449,711 tourist arrivals from China, representing a 190.8% increase over the same period in 2023.

Tiong has also consistently raised concerns about issues affecting Chinese tourists in Malaysia, having previously told the Dewan Rakyat that they were hesitant to visit the country due to the racial remarks made by certain Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders.

He recently described the backlash over the Chinese flag incident in Teluk Intan, Perak as an “overreaction” that could suggest Malaysia is unwelcoming to foreign tourists at cultural events.