SEPANG, 25 AUGUST 2024—The Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Mr. Manoharan Periasamy, as well as representatives from 9 Air and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), personally welcomed passengers aboard flight AQ1211 from Guiyang, which arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport T2 today.

9 Air is a low-cost airline in China and the first and only budget carrier serving Central and Southern China, with its main operating base at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The new service between Guiyang and Kuala Lumpur will operate weekly, utilising Boeing 737-800 aircraft with a capacity of 189 passengers.

The expansion of routes from China is a result of the Minister’s efforts during his official work visit, and the sales mission in China has yielded positive outcomes. This marks the first route from Guizhou Province and 9 Air’s debut destination in Malaysia. It presents a significant opportunity to attract more tourists from second-tier cities in China by expanding international airline connections to Malaysia.

Previously, 9 Air operated flights to Thailand, Russia, Japan, and Laos, with Malaysia being the latest addition to its international routes. This new service, catering exclusively to travellers from Guiyang to Malaysia, marks a critical turning point in the development of tourism in Guizhou Province.

With these direct flights, Chinese tourists can now easily explore Malaysia's diverse attractions, from the iconic Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur to the beautiful beaches of Langkawi Island, the cultural splendours of Malacca, and the opportunity to experience unique cultural attractions, historical landmarks, and Malaysia's renowned cuisine.

The introduction of visa-free entry for Chinese travellers effective 1 December 2023 until 31 December 2026 has spurred inquiries and bookings to Malaysia from China. As of June 2024, Malaysia has welcomed 1,449,711 arrivals from China, an impressive 190.8% increase compared to the same period in 2023, which saw 498,540 arrivals.

This new route offers an excellent opportunity to further boost tourist arrivals from Chinese cities. To strengthen its marketing efforts and attract more Chinese tourists, Tourism Malaysia remains committed to forming new strategic partnerships and collaborating with both domestic and international airlines.

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About Tourism Malaysia

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as Tourism Malaysia, is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination.

Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. The next Visit Malaysia Year, set to take place in 2026, will commemorate the sustainability of the nation's tourism industry, which is also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).

Furthermore, Tourism Malaysia actively endorses the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), working towards the realisation of the IMT-GT Visiting Year 2023-2025, with the shared aim of promoting the region as a unified tourism destination. For more information, visit Tourism Malaysia’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

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