Chinese travellers can now access Malaysia’s travel and tourism products and services through an e-marketplace in China.

This is made possible by the introduction of the Malaysia Tourism Pavilion (MTP) on Alitrip by Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group. Alitrip MTP will be managed and operated by Beijing Xinlian Mobile Technology, appointed by Alibaba and endorsed by Tourism Malaysia.

The Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak officially launched Alitrip MTP today at China World Hotel, Beijing. The event was graced by the Minister of Tourism and Culture Malaysia Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, Alibaba Group Executive Chairman Jack Ma, Ambassador of Malaysia to China Dato’ Zainuddin Yahya, Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia Tan Sri Dr. Ong Hong Peng, Tourism Malaysia Chairman Dato’ Dr. Siew Ka Wei, Tourism Malaysia Director General Datuk Seri Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the People’s Republic of China Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting, and Alitrip President and Alibaba Group Vice President Li Shaohua.

The travel products and services that Malaysian tourism merchants promote and offer directly to Chinese travellers via MTP include local tour and hotel packages (with or without flight tickets), shopping and dining mobile vouchers, local attraction and event tickets, and local transportation and communication services.

Alitrip MTP provides an excellent platform for Malaysian travel trade players to get a bigger slice of the Chinese outbound market. Last year, tourist arrivals from China to Malaysia increased by 4%, reaching 1.68 million against 1.61 million in 2014. The first six months of 2016 already recorded a 32% growth in arrivals from the Chinese market, with a total of 992,463 tourists.

Malaysia is now gearing up to achieve 2 million Chinese arrivals by the end of this year, and 8 million by 2020. Therefore, the Alitrip Malaysia Tourism Pavilion couldn’t have come at a better time for the country to achieve this ambitious target.

The Prime Minister of Malaysia encouraged Chinese tourists to visit Malaysia as it is now easier for them to travel to the country due to the relaxed visa requirements.

“With the launching of the Alitrip Malaysia Tourism Pavilion, Malaysia is now only a click away, and we welcome you to our shores with open arms,” said Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib in his speech.