MH370 crisis in M"sia may affect neighbours" tourism

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s target to attract two million visitors from China this year may be affected by the controversy surrounding the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370.

Tour agencies have reported a drop in bookings from China, and experts said this may affect neighbours Singapore and Thailand as well.

China is the third largest source of visitors to Malaysia.

Last year, almost 1.8 million Chinese travelled to the country, marking a jump of almost 15 per cent from the previous year.

Chinese also spend an average of US$1,500 per trip, contributing to almost 0.5 per cent of Malaysia’s GDP.

Carol K, communications director at Arch Collection, said: “Chinese are really big spenders, they love our products. That’s why we target a lot of the Chinese crowds.”

But all that may change, with growing Chinese dissatisfaction over the Malaysian authorities handling of the missing flight MH370.

The incident has been called a Chinese tragedy, as Chinese nationals account for two-thirds of the 239 people on board.

Many Chinese have expressed anger over the perceived lack of information from Malaysian authorities.

Chinese tourists currently visiting Malaysia’s capital city Kuala Lumpur said their mood has been affected by the incident.

Malaysia Airlines has enhanced security measures since MH370 went missing.

All its employees, from pilots to ground crew, are on anti-sabotage alert.

Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, Malaysia Airlines’ CEO, said: “We have ratcheted up process and procedures up to level of code Tango (anti-sabotage) to ensure safety and security of our flights.”

Industry players are hopeful that the dip in Chinese tourists heading to Malaysia may just be a knee-jerk reaction.

But lower tourist numbers from China may not just affect Malaysia, but its neighbours, Singapore and Thailand as well.

The Malaysia Grand Prix — a big highlight on Malaysia’s tourism calendar — has already been hit.

Ticket sales have been slow and organiser Petronas has cancelled the Formula 1 concert, as a mark of respect to families of those on board the missing jet.

The Malaysia Airlines jet had gone missing en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on 8 March, triggering an international search effort.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak on Monday had announced that the plane had ended its flight in the southern Indian Ocean.

MH370 crisis in M"sia may affect neighbours" tourism