China overtakes Thailand as Malaysia's third largest source of visitors

By Hoang Vu August 25, 2024 | 06:57 pm PT

Tourists pass by Malaysia's Prime Minister's Office in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Jan. 28, 2020. Photo by Reuters

Malaysia welcomed 1.44 million visitors from China during the first half of this year, making Chinese the third largest group of tourists after Singaporeans and Indonesians.

Thailand, which held the third position last year, has now been pushed to fourth place with 813,000 arrivals, according to data from Malaysia's Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

From January to June, Malaysia received 11.8 million foreign tourists, a 29% increase compared to the same period last year.

The number of Chinese tourists alone surged nearly three-fold from last year's 498,000.

The rise in Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia has been attributed to the implementation of visa-free travel arrangements between the two countries, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, said as cited by The Star.

Malaysia began offering 30-day visa-free entry to Chinese citizens in December last year, and this policy has been extended until 2026.