Shanghai Airlines. — Photo via Wikipedia
BINTULU (Nov 12): Shanghai Airlines will increase the frequency of direct flights from Shanghai to Penang from the three times a week to daily flights starting December 19 this year in response to positive feedback on this route, said Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) said this is in line with his ministry’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Chinese airlines to open new routes and expand opportunities for Malaysia’s tourism and economic sectors.
“I am confident that the increase in direct flights by Shanghai Airlines to operate daily instead of three times a week will further drive economic growth and tourism in Penang.
“I am very grateful to Wang Zhiqing, chairman of China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited, and Li Bin, general manager of China Eastern Airlines Malaysia, for their trust and support to Motac in realising efforts that are capable of bringing these positive impacts,” he said on Facebook.
On another note, Tiong said Penang is well-known as a tropical paradise with stunning beaches, lush rainforests, with George Town recognised as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
He believes that with its natural beauty and rich cultural history, Penang has immense economic and tourism potential.
“Increasing flights between Shanghai and Penang creates a win-win situation, benefiting the airline and bringing development prospects to Penang.
“We believe this expansion will attract more Chinese tourists to Penang during the year-end period and Chinese New Year, contributing to tourism and economic growth,” he said.
According to him, China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited, based in Shanghai, is one of China’s three major state-owned airline groups, serving 150 million passengers annually and ranked among the world’s top ten airlines.
Its subsidiaries include Shanghai Airlines, China United Airlines, and OTT Airlines.
“In just a few months, the direct Shanghai-Penang route has received positive responses, and the increase in flights indicates that our promotional efforts in China are not in vain.
“Our good relationship with Chinese airlines paves the way for further cooperation in opening new routes to other major cities in Malaysia,” said Tiong.
On August 1 this year, he said Shanghai Airlines launched the direct Shanghai-Penang route, operating three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
“In addition to new routes and increased flights from China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines, I would also like to thank other Chinese airlines and our domestic airlines for their support, which has significantly contributed to the recovery in Chinese tourist arrivals,” he said.
Quoting Tourism Malaysia and Immigration Department statistics, Tiong said the number of Chinese visitors to Malaysia in the first three quarters of this year has increased by 144 per cent compared to the same period last year, even exceeding the pre-pandemic 2019 figures by 4.9 per cent.
Up to September this year, he said Malaysia has received more than 2.53 million Chinese tourists, a significant increase from 2.41 million in the same period in 2019.
“I urge domestic tourism providers to continue offering high-quality services to Chinese tourists, aligning efforts with domestic airlines and attracting the support of Chinese airlines to make Malaysia the top destination for Chinese tourists, thereby bringing abundant benefits to Malaysia,” he said.