Interview with Tourism, Arts and Culture Minisiter, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing at Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad on August 07.—AZMAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will take the lead in developing green destinations that link China to South-East Asia as part of a joint initiative between the two countries, says Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (pic).
Aimed at strengthening two-way tourism by promoting lesser-known destinations, particularly in Sarawak, the initiative will draw on China’s expertise to develop unique tourism products and expand digital tourism platforms.
“Cultural heritage conservation will also be a key focus,” he said yesterday.
Tiong noted that efforts are underway to enhance technical cooperation and training, in addition to continuing the joint bid for Unesco recognition of the lion dance as an intangible cultural heritage.
He said Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia from today until Thursday is expected to open the door to deeper bilateral cooperation in the fields of tourism, culture and education.
“The ministry hopes to use this high-level visit as a catalyst to strengthen people-to-people ties and support sustainable growth in related sectors.
“We believe that reinforcing cultural and interpersonal links can help usher in a new chapter in Malaysia-China relations and foster long-term development,” he said.
He added that among the areas identified for enhanced collaboration are Muslim-friendly tourism, green travel, heritage preservation and youth exchange.
Tiong said Malaysia aspires to position itself as a regional hub, connecting China with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and facilitating greater cross-border travel among Muslim communities.
In education, Malaysia is looking to establish a structured student exchange programme between secondary schools and universities in both countries, aimed at deepening cultural understanding among the younger generation.
He also extended a warm invitation to Chinese visitors, encouraging them to explore Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage and diverse landscapes.
“We warmly welcome Chinese visitors to follow in President Xi’s footsteps and experience our unique cultural richness and stunning natural scenery.
“For those returning, we invite you to go deeper – immerse yourselves in local life and experience the genuine warmth of our people,” he said.
He expressed hope that the three-day visit would yield positive outcomes for both nations.
Malaysia Inbound Chinese Association (Mica) president Datuk Dr Angie Ng said Xi’s visit is expected to significantly raise Malaysia’s profile in China, particularly in the tourism sector.
“The greatest benefit is the attention Malaysia is receiving. The president’s visit is international news, and this kind of positive exposure helps promote Malaysia as a travel destination.”
Ng added that permanently implementing visa-free entry for Chinese travellers would further boost tourist arrivals.
“We welcomed 4.1 million Chinese visitors last year, and we expect that number to increase to five million this year.
“The visit will also support growth in trade, culture, arts and tourism between both nations,” she noted, adding that Malaysia’s well-developed halal food industry continues to appeal to Chinese Muslim travellers and the response has been very positive.
She said Xi’s presence in Malaysia has sparked interest even in China’s smaller cities.
“We’re seeing a surge in searches for Malaysia on platforms like Baidu, indicating that people across China are starting to take notice of us,” she said.
Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (Mita) president Mint Leong also said a permanent visa-free policy between Malaysia and China would further strengthen arrivals.
“It’s not only Chinese visitors who enjoy visiting Malaysia – many Malaysians also love travelling to China.”
She said Malaysia should continue enhancing its tourism offerings by regularly introducing new attractions to keep the experience fresh for repeat visitors.
“This way, Chinese visitors will keep coming back to Malaysia for different cultural and travel experiences,” she added.
She also highlighted the growing popularity of agrotourism among Chinese travellers, particularly visits to durian orchards.
“Chinese visitors come here not only to enjoy fresh durian but also to learn how durian trees flower and bear fruit and to distinguish between different durian varieties,” she said.
