Malaysia expects to welcome 2 million visitors this year

Nancy said there are about 100 flights scheduled to arrive at Malaysia's airports on April 1. (Photo: The Edge)

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysia’s Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) Minister Nancy Shukri said the country is expected to receive two million international tourists this year with revenue of more than 8.6 billion RM when reopening its borders on April 1.

The reopening of the country’s borders is hoped to revitalise the tourism industry, she said adding that about 100 flights arrived at Malaysian airports, carrying more than 10,000 passengers, including foreign tourists on April 1 alone.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Zakaria Shaaban said that immigration control points at 183 border gates across the country are ready to receive tourists. At the same time, the country plans to open more checkpoints when necessary.

Malaysia Airlines General Manager, Iskandar Mizal Mahmood said that to facilitate the immigration process, volunteers and task forces have been mobilised at airports to assist tourists, especially in using the software application installed on mobile phones MySejahtera – an integrated software including visitor information and vaccination certificate - over a two-week period.

Earlier, Nancy said about 1,000 international tourists are expected to arrive in Malaysia on the first day when the Southeast Asian country moves to consider COVID-19 an endemic disease.

According to the official, most of the visitors came from Singapore via land and air entry points./.