Don't overreact to visitors from China, says tourism minister

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing has advised Malaysians not to overreact to tourists arriving from China following the surge of Covid-19 infections in that country.

He said the government was aware of the Covid-19 situation in the country, and that for the time being, there was no need to impose restrictions, improve SOPs, or implement special controls on tourists from China.

"I’m asking the people not to overreact... I think it is unfair to impose special controls on Chinese tourists. 

"(Based on data) a total of 10.9 million of Covid-19 cases have been reported in China and if we look at the US, it has reached 99 million (cases).

"So, if we want to take action (on tourists) it should be against (tourists arriving from) the US. The (US’) death rate has also reached 1.08 million cases but in China, it is only at 36,000. However, the government is monitoring (the situation)," he told reporters in Petaling Street yesterday. 

Tiong also urged Malaysians to continue prioritising their health and maintaining the SOPs to curb the spread of Covid-19, especially as the country’s tourism sector had now resumed operations.