China is a very important source of tourist arrivals for Malaysia, next only to the Southeast Asian region, a senior Malaysian tourism official said Thursday.

Malaysia will continue to make efforts to upgrade its tourism service to woo more Chinese tourists, Deputy Tourism Minister Donald Lim Siang Chai said in an interview with Xinhua.

Like many other countries in the world, Malaysia places tourism sector, the green industry, in an important position in the economic map, which contributes a lot to foreign exchange earnings and economic prosperity, said Lim.

As the most populous country, China promises a huge potential market, and coupled with the fact Chinese visitors will encounter little difficulty in terms of communication given the large number of Malaysian citizens of Chinese origin in this tropical country, Malaysia holds high expectations and thinks its country should be a charming destination for Chinese tourists, said Lim.

He said he believes there is large room for the future growth of tourist arrivals from China. According to local statistics, the year 2005 saw some 350,000 tourist arrivals from the Chinese mainland, accounting for 2.2 percent of the total foreign tourist arrivals. This year, the number is expected to reach more than 420, 000, registering a year-on-year increase of 20 percent.

To facilitate the coming of Chinese tourists, the Malaysian government and the Ministry of Tourism have taken several measures, said Lim, which include the simplification of visa application process, the deployment of Chinese-speaking staff in international airports and the introduction of sign boards with Chinese versions in major scenic spots.

Meanwhile, the government will beef up efforts to curb some improper practice in the tourism sector, improve the infrastructure construction and urge local people to provide more friendly, up-to-standard service, said the deputy minister.

In addition, the Tourism Ministry is considering opening offices in more cities in China, said Lim. Currently, the ministry has set up offices in four cities on the mainland, namely, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu.

When talking about the considerable decline in the Chinese tourist arrivals following some unhappy episodes in 2005, Lim said the Malaysian government was much concerned about the matter. The appointment of an ethnic Chinese deputy tourism minister demonstrated the great importance the Malaysian government attached to the Chinese market. Malaysia wished to foster smoother communication between the two countries, iron out some misunderstandings and win back the Chinese tourists as soon as possible, said Lim.

On the upcoming Visit Malaysia Year 2007, Lim said, the ministry has tailored 50 major events throughout the year, covering various fields such as culture, sports, nature and fashion, which will best showcase the pluralism of the Malaysian society.

He look forward to welcoming more Chinese visitors here, hoping they will not only enjoy the natural scenery and taste local cuisine, but also participate in those programs, whether sports or festival celebrations, immersing themselves in the colors of Malaysia, which is a unique multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi- religious country.

The year 2007 will also mark the 50th anniversary of independence of this southeast Asian nation. The government has declared its ambitious plan to woo 20 million tourists and earn tourist receipts worth 44.5 billion ringgit (12.03 billion U.S. dollars).

The tourism sector is the third economic pillar and the second largest source of foreign revenue for Malaysia. Last year, foreign tourist arrivals reached 16.4 million, bringing tourist receipts worth 31.95 billion ringgit (8.63 billion U.S. dollars).

The country sets a target of 24.6 million foreign tourist arrivals for 2010, with Chinese tourists accounting for 6.1 percent, local media reports said earlier.

Source: Xinhua