KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 — Chinese tourist arrivals in Malaysia is not expected to slow down but remain strong despite the recent tragedy involving a Malaysia Airlines aircraft, says Berjaya Hotels and Resorts Executive Director Leong Wy Joon.
March is usually the peak travel season for the Chinese who visit Southeast Asian countries and Malaysia is a top holiday destination for Chinese tourists.
“However, there will be a substantial impact on the volume of Chinese tourists in the short-term due to sensitivities that occurred from the tragedy.
“As a matter of fact, the hotel and resorts business may be affected, but it may not be for the long-term,” he told reporters after the signing of an agreement between Berjaya Land Bhd and Taisei Corp for the construction of the Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto in Japan.
Berjaya Land also signed a loan agreement with RHB Bhd and Mizuho Bank Ltd to raise US$160 million (RM526.4 million) for the hotel project.
Flight MH370, carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew, left the KL International Airport at 12.41am on March 8 and disappeared from radar screens about an hour later while flying over the South China Sea.
It was to have landed in Beijing at 6.30am on the same day.
A multinational search for the ill-fated aircraft is underway at the southern corridor of the Indian Ocean.
The development of the Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto represents Berjaya’s third major project in North Asia after the Integrated Resort Development in Jeju, South Korea, and the Great Mall of China Project in Beijing, China.
On future prospects, Leong said despite the ongoing project, the company was also looking forward to venturing into Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka.
“We will focus on completing the project while the rest is still in the preliminary stage,” he added. — Bernama
