In 2019, before the pandemic, more than 3 million Chinese tourists visited Malaysia, accounting for nearly 12 percent of global travelers visiting the country, and contributing nearly 18 percent of total tourism revenues of the country, according to Malaysian government data.

"Malaysia has long been a hot overseas destination for Chinese travelers. The visa-free policy is expected to effectively shorten the decision-making period of tourists and the sales cycle of related travel products," said Fan Dongxiao, director of short-haul outbound tours at Tuniu Corp, a Nanjing, Jiangsu province-based online travel agency.

"The visa-free policy is foreseen to significantly help promote Malaysia's tourism market. Malaysia boasts good island resources and reasonable prices. Compared with domestic island tours, it is cost-effective, hence an advantage," Fan said.

Multiple direct flights connecting Kuala Lumpur and several Chinese cities have either resumed or been launched. Prominent among them are Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in Guangdong province, Chengdu in Sichuan province, and Xiamen in Fujian province.

For the upcoming Spring Festival holiday, Malaysia is expected to be a dark horse among Chinese travelers' outbound tourism destinations. The number of Chinese tourists who visit Malaysia may exceed the level of 2019, as long as there are enough number of flights, said Xu Xiaolei, chief brand officer of CYTS Tours Holding Co in Beijing.

zhuwenqian@chinadaily.com.cn