Beijing big draw with Malaysian visitors

The number of travelers from Malaysia surged by 548.4 percent year-on-year during the first seven months of this year, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture and Tourism reported.

Lin Ruiguo, who runs one of Malaysia's biggest outbound trip wholesalers, Golden Destinations, said his company is sending nearly 200 travel groups to China in September and October.

The Beijing tourism authority took six travel operators to the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents fair between Sept 6 and 8 to continue boosting bilateral tourism.

At the Beijing exhibition booth, a variety of interactive intangible cultural heritage activities were available, attracting many visitors. They were able to experience applying Peking Opera makeup and kite making, and also taste Chinese food.

Beijing operators listened to the needs of their Malaysian counterparts, with the aim of improving the quality of international services, enhancing the international language environment, conducting standardized training for the hotel and service industries, and providing convenient payment services for inbound tourists.