KOTA KINABALU: Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui welcomed Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz’s move to submit a proposal to the Cabinet to abolish visa for tourists from China.
He said Sabah would be the first state to benefit once the visa-free policy for tourists from China was implemented.
Lui said the government should not remain indecisive on this matter, especially in times of economic slowdown.
He said the government should make an immediate decision to lure more tourists from China to Malaysia.
“Our country must create competitive and favourable incentives to woo the 111 million tourists from China to our country, particularly Sabah.”
Lui said when responding to Nazri’s announcement that the proposal to waive visa application for tourists from China had been submitted to the Cabinet on May 15, adding that he hoped that a decision could be made soon.
Although Malaysia was the first Southeast Asia country to establish diplomatic relations with China, our country has yet to abolish the visa requirement for China tourists.
He pointed out that our neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Indonesia were first to implement the visa-free policy for China tourists and have been enjoying the economic benefits ever since.
Lui concurred with Nazri that as long as the visa requirement was in place, the arrival of China tourists to Malaysia would always be fewer than other countries.
“I believe other businesses share the same feeling. When tourist arrivals from China to Kota Kinabalu were at its peak, we could see crowds of Chinese tourists everywhere.
“Their spending had spurred the economy of the market and commercial activities.
“Now, the drop in tourists from China has directly affected the revenue of businesses.”
Hence, Lui pointed out that it was high time to waive visa requirement for China tourists, considering the benefits it would bring to the State’s economy.
Lui also criticized the relevant authority for giving excuses such as overstaying of tourists to hinder the abolishment of visa for China tourists.
He said it was irresponsible for the relevant authority to do so because the government of other countries took various measures to prevent tourists from overstaying, adding that this was the responsibility of the government.