People cross a street in Malaysia. Photo by Reuters
Malaysian authorities expected Chinese tourism spending to surpass RM30 billion (US$6.9 billion) next year, nearly doubling pre-Covid levels, driven by an increase in tourist arrivals.
The average spending per Chinese visitor in the first half of this year was 27% higher than in 2019, The Star reported, citing a source from Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB).
Chinese tourists spent an average of RM6,242 between January and June this year, compared to RM4,921 during the same period in 2019, the bank added.
“We estimate that Chinese visitor arrivals could reach five million in 2025, a 60% increase from 2019, with corresponding tourism spending potentially exceeding RM30 billion,” Maybank IB noted.
In the first eight months of this year, Malaysia welcomed 2.2 million Chinese tourists, a 160% increase compared to the same period last year. Before the pandemic, Malaysia received 3.1 million tourists from China, reported the New Straits Times.
Malaysia introduced a 30-day visa waiver for Chinese citizens last December, and this policy has been extended until 2026.
Renowned for its diverse cultural landscape, Malaysia surpassed both Singapore and Thailand to become Asia’s most-loved country, according to a survey conducted by Insider Monkey in June.
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