” We saw almost 900, 000 visitor arrivals from China as of April, this year alone. According to him, the full last year was four million, according to NST.
According to him, this is seen as a good sign that the government should continue taking these activities for the benefit of both nations.  ,
” China continues to be the main draw for foreign visitors to Malaysia, followed by India. Singapore leads the ASEAN regions, followed by Thailand, he continued, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.  ,
Given its immediate effect compared to other forms of investment, hospitality continues to be a significant contribution to the federal market, Saifuddin said.  ,
Prior to the announcement, Malay may travel to China without a visa until Dec 31 this time, while Chinese citizens may continue to do so until Dec 31 of the following year, according to The Star.
Nigel Wong, president of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents, stated that the card modification will help the hospitality sector further expand the Taiwanese email business.  ,
According to The Star, he was quoted as saying,” There is security for the business to plan ahead and increase efforts to get more Chinese visitors,” underscoring the growing demand for Chinese tourists looking for experienced tourism products.
” It’s no longer just about the typical tours,” he said. Foreign tourists are more likely to visit inventive and creative experiences like culinary hospitality, history and tradition, as well as ecotourism products, Nigel continued.  ,
He anticipates that the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign’s rewards will extend beyond that.
Tourism is known to increase after the Visit Malaysia strategy, and this development may weave in very well, he said.  ,
With a number of daring goals, including 35.6 million international visitors and RM147.1 billion ( US$ 33 billion ) in tourism documents, the Visit Malaysia plan is a nationwide effort to boost coming hospitality.  ,
The visa-free improvement, according to Mint Leong, the president of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association, does provide industry players with a clear path for marketing to Chinese tourists.
Due to this, Malaysia will also have the chance to get more business activities and firm travelers, Leong was quoted as saying by The Star.
Koong Lin Loong, treasurer-general of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, added that the “hospitality business is also going to benefit” as a result.
Foreign visitors will feel less troubled because of the visa-free problems, and they will undoubtedly be spending both on goods and beverages, he said.  ,
The Bangkok Post reported a drop in visitor arrivals to Thailand, hitting a small for 2025 with just 5, 833 recorded on April 16, below the normal daily average of 15, 000 to 20, 000.
The tourism power of Thailand’s chairman, Natthriya Thaweevong, claimed that the average number of tourists from Asia has decreased, good as a result of” health concerns” and the “economic effect of the US price trek.”
The security issues most likely relate to Wang Xing’s well-known abduction in Thailand.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, there were 1.5 million Chinese immigrants as of April 20, followed by Internationals at 1.4 million and Russians at 835 and 385.  ,
Srettha Thavisin, the then-prime secretary of Thailand, announced last year that starting on March 1, 2024, Chinese citizens may be granted visa-free entry permanently.  ,
Nearly two months after the request was first made public, Singapore and China furthermore agreed to a 30-day visa-free passage for their residents.