TM Deputy Chairman with captain and crew of Shanghai Airlines Flight FM877 from PVG - PEN

PENANG, 1 August 2024 – Passengers on board flight FM877 arriving at Penang International Airport today from Shanghai were welcomed by YBhg. Dato' Yeoh Soon Hin, Deputy Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, alongside representatives from Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), Penang Global Tourism (PGT) and Shanghai Airlines. The aircraft received a ceremonial water salute upon its arrival, symbolising the strong ties between the two destinations.

Shanghai Airlines, a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Eastern Airlines headquartered in Shanghai, currently operates seven weekly flights to Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu. This new service connecting Shanghai and Penang will run three times a week using a Boeing 738 aircraft with a capacity of 168 passengers.

The new route is expected to significantly enhance tourist traffic and strengthen bilateral relations between Malaysia and China, offering more convenient travel options and fostering closer ties between the two nations. The expansion of routes from China resulted from YB Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture's efforts during his official working visit to China, which has yielded positive outcomes.

Since the implementation of the visa-free policy for Chinese travellers on 1 December 2023, Malaysia has witnessed a remarkable surge in tourist arrivals. As of May 2024, the country has welcomed 1,185,050 visitors from China, reflecting an astounding 194% increase compared to the same period in 2023, which recorded 403,121 arrivals.

The introduction of this new route presents an excellent opportunity to attract more tourists from various cities across China. Tourism Malaysia remains dedicated to forming strategic partnerships and collaborations with international airlines to boost promotional efforts and stimulate travel demand from China.

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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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