Malacca airport begins taking in flights from China

Strait talking: Idris (third from right) and wife Datin Seri Fadhilah Abdullah welcoming tourists from Guangzhou at the Malacca International Airport in Batu Berendam. Looking on (from left) are Dr Wee, Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang, singer and Tourism Malaysia ambassador Chiang Yu Heng and JE International group executive chairman Datuk Jojo Wang.

MALACCA: The arrival of an Airbus A319 from Guangzhou at the Malacca International Airport (LTAM) at Batu Berendam here is a milestone for the development of the state, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron.

He said the maiden flight operated by China Southern Airlines marks the start of a RM30bil investment set to flow into the state over the next two decades.

Malacca would benefit from the arrival of tourists from China and investors, he added.

“Today we have industry captains and players in the hotel industry from China on the flight who are looking for huge investment opportunities,” he said after welcoming the inaugural flight here yesterday.

The event was also witnessed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong and Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang.

The flight touched down at about 1.20pm, making history for LTAM as the aircraft is the largest ever to land here.

Idris said there will be another 25 chartered flights from Guangzhou to Malacca, with flight tickets fully booked until Jan 3, 2017.

He said with the direct flights, the arrival of Chinese tourists would increase to three million for next year compared to 879,000 currently.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi chaired a cabinet committee on tourism meeting in Putrajaya yesterday, where it discussed steps to boost the country’s tourism industry.