The Malaysian Insight

LOCAL tourism players are looking forward to Chinese visitors spending the Lunar New Year abroad but along with this comes concerns about the spread of the mystery virus, dubbed the Wuhan flu, which to date, has killed 18 in China and infected more than 500 people.

Chinese tourist numbers to Malaysia are expected to increase by 20% for the 15 days of the new year celebrations, compared with the same period last year, according to Malaysia Inbound Chinese Association (Mica) president Angie Ng.

Malaysia is likely to be a favourite destination given the instability in Hong Kong and anti-Chinese sentiment in Taiwan after its recent presidential elections.

“The number of tourists to Malaysia is expected to increase by more than 20% from last year, although it is difficult to pinpoint and say how many will be from Wuhan,” Ng told The Malaysian Insight.

Wuhan is one of the most populated and thriving cities in central China, exposing millions of other Chinese who pass through the hub to the virus.

More cases of the new coronavirus infection have been reported across the rest of the country, while the Chinese government has confirmed human-to-human transmission.

Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association president Albert Tan Sam Soon said Chinese tourists from other parts of the country could also bring the disease and urged the Malaysian government to ensure stringent checks at international airports and borders.

Malaysia should have had enough experience from handling the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003, he said.

“Airports in Malaysia and border checks must be on high alert with temperature scanners, as a lot of Chinese tourists will be taking advantage of the new year holidays to travel.

“Wuhan has already imposed a massive quarantine, shutting down public transportation in a bid to contain the virus,” Tan said.

He also urged local tour guides to ensure precautions are taken, such as disinfecting tour bus seats daily and ensuring tourists use hand sanitisers.

“Guides and coach drivers must provide visitors with convenience and precautions, such as hand-washing liquid and hand sanitisers, and remind visitors to use them frequently.”

The spring festival in China, which coincides with Chinese New Year, runs from January 10 to February 18, during which some seven million people are expected to travel abroad, Chinese media reported.

Tan said even though Wuhan is in a lockdown and quarantine imposed on its residents, there will still be travellers from other cities, from where more direct flights to Malaysia have been established. These cities include Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Xiamen, Quanzhou and Beijing.

China yesterday suspended outbound travels from Wuhan.

Sabah tourist hot spot

Mica’s Ng, meanwhile, said Sabah is expected to be a favourite destination within Malaysia as there are now flights from Chinese cities to Kota Kinabalu by various airlines, such as Loong Air and Xiamen Air.

Loong Air just launched a direct route from Xi’an to Kota Kinabalu, with its inaugural flight scheduled this Lunar New Year, catering to about 2,000 Chinese tourists, Ng said.

The airline will have thrice weekly flights to Kota Kinabalu, with 170 seats each.

Ng said the tour operators must remind local guides to wear face mask and to also remind visitors about washing hands.

Guides must also be attentive to the health of tourists under their charge and observe if anyone falls sick or has a temperature. They should be made to wear a mask and taken to a doctor, Ng added.

“We have to remind guides to observe the physical condition of tourists and be ready with follow-up action.”

The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry also concurred with predictions of higher numbers of Chinese tourists this year.

Director-general of tourism Musa Yusof said the number of Chinese visitors is expected to increase by 4.4% for the first half of the Lunar New Year period, from January 24 to 30, based on flight bookings.

In the latest developments yesterday, however, AirAsia and Malindo Air cancelled all flights to and from Wuhan.

They said the suspension of their flights is in response to the travel ban imposed by Chinese officials on Wuhan residents.

The virus, with pneumonia-like symptoms, is thought to have originated from a wildlife meat market in Wuhan, possibly from snakes. Outside China, cases have been confirmed in Thailand, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and the US. – January 24, 2020.