Direct charter flights from Haikou, China to Malacca next year

MALACCA: Malacca will receive direct charter flights from Haikou city in Hainan province, China to the Malacca International Airport (LTAM) in Batu Berendam, here, which is expected to kick off by the first quarter of next year.

State Exco for Transport, Project Rehabilitation and International Trade Datuk Lim Ban Hong said the effort was still being discussed with several airlines in Hainan, which had shown a positive reaction.

"This is the state government's plan to boost the tourism sector and the state's economy.

"It is also in line with the federal government's goal to attract eight million tourists from China within the next five years," he told reporters at the Hyatt Place hotel and service apartment groundbreaking ceremony in Pulau Melaka, here last night.

He said the direct charter flights would also provide accommodation and tour packages to attractive destinations in the country with the cooperation of travel companies in Malacca and Hainan.

Lim said the tour packages were expected to boost the state's tourism industry, including hotels, food and souvenir industries.

He said, in the future, there were plans to extend the direct flight to Quangxi which is located in the south of China.

"The state government welcomes any party or airline that wants to do direct or charter flights to the state, especially from China," he said.

He said the Chinese market was one of the largest markets for tourist arrivals to Malaysia, which could increase the state tourism sector. — Bernama