Direct flights to bring in more Chinese tourists to Malacca

World class: Port Klang is on track to becoming the 10th largest port in the world by 2020.

putrajaya: Malacca can look forward to more tourists from China from next month, says Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Liow said the Melaka Interna­tional Airport in Batu Berendam would receive the first direct flight from Guangzhou on Sept 29.

Malacca, he told reporters here yesterday, was also poised for more economic cooperation with China.

“Investments of billions of ringgit from China have flowed into Malaysia,” he said, citing US$10bil (RM40bil) in the Malacca Gateway project.

A deep seaport and ocean park, he said, would be built in the Malacca Gateway project as part of the “One Belt, One Road” initiative.

The project, set to become the largest private marina in South-East Asia, is scheduled for completion in 2025.

On Port Klang, Liow said it was on track to becoming the 10th largest port in the world by 2020, up from its current 12th spot.

The Transport Minister also pointed out the importance of continuing to grow the economy and enhancing the country’s economic resilience in the wake of the increasing and unprecedented challenges abroad.

Liow said efficiency in doing business such as cutting down the time needed to send air cargo would be translated into more business and job opportunities.

He also advised transport industry players to continue to fully use all available technology to provide the best service and have a competitive edge in this era of globalisation and digitalisation.