Malaysia hosts the two-day ASEAN-China Tourism Dialogue in Langkawi, bringing together senior officials and industry leaders to boost regional tourism cooperation.
ALOR SETAR: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) is hosting the two-day ASEAN-China Tourism Dialogue in Langkawi, Kedah, starting today.
MOTAC said the prestigious event reaffirmed Malaysia’s unwavering commitment to strengthening tourism cooperation between ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states and the People’s Republic of China.
MOTAC said the high-level dialogue brought together senior government officials, tourism organisations, industry leaders and private sector representatives from across ASEAN and China.
“Delegates will explore strategic pathways for advancing sustainable tourism, accelerating digital transformation, enhancing regional connectivity and promoting deeper people-to-people exchanges.
“The dialogue was officially opened by Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, alongside Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing; chair of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA) Zhang Xu; and secretary-general of the ASEAN-China Centre Zhang Lizhong,” MOTAC said in a statement today.
MOTAC said the sessions were followed by dynamic panel discussions focusing on regional tourism resilience, digital innovation and cultural and creative tourism cooperation, providing invaluable insights into strengthening regional collaboration and enhancing the global competitiveness of both ASEAN and China as premier travel destinations.
The Malaysia-China Tourism Dialogue, held in conjunction with the forum, further solidified bilateral ties through targeted tourism promotion presentations from both countries.
“The session culminated in the signing and exchange of several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and business cooperation agreements between Malaysian and Chinese tourism stakeholders.
“These strategic partnerships are expected to boost joint tourism promotion, facilitate cross-border business collaboration and unlock new opportunities for tourism investment and visitor exchanges,” it added.
The programme also featured the ASEAN-China Business Networking Session, providing a high-value platform for tourism businesses and industry players from both regions to establish strategic partnerships, foster new commercial linkages and explore emerging market opportunities.
Tomorrow, the delegates will participate in a technical visit to the Kilim Geoforest Park and the Langkawi Craft Complex, as well as go on a Langkawi Sunset Cruise, which will all showcase the island’s distinctive ecotourism, rich cultural heritage and diverse experiential tourism offerings.
China remains one of Malaysia’s key tourism source markets, and the successful hosting of these dialogues will only underscore the strong and enduring partnership between Malaysia, ASEAN and China.
The outcomes of the meetings are expected to further strengthen regional tourism cooperation, increase visitor flows and support the continued success of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
