SINGAPORE: Malaysia’s Tourism Promotion Board chairman Tan Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen says Chinese tourists travelling to Malaysia via Singapore will be issued with visa on arrival.

She hopes travel trade operators here will take the opportunity to make use of Malaysia’s special policy of visa on arrival to attract more Chinese tourists.

“Chinese arrivals are very (much) linked to the Singapore market. If they don't come to Malaysia, they will not come to Singapore. So, we are trying to do our best to develop both.

“And that is also to help Singapore, our closest neighbour and good friend ... therefore, we would like them (Chinese tourists) to come to Singapore first before coming to Malaysia.

“Not many countries have such a neighbour-friendly policy but we have that,” she said during a luncheon event with travel trade operators here.

Dr Ng was here to network and thank the travel trade industry players for their continuous support for the Malaysian tourism sector.

When the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 vanished on March 8 last year, Malaysia experienced a big drop in tourist arrivals from China to the tune of almost 10%.

In relation to that tragedy, Dr Ng said: “We established a crisis management centre in Beijing and we will continue to address the issue.

“And to address the issue a personal touch is important. We have to go to tour operators and consumers and build up thei confidence in us again,” she added. — Bernama