BY SITI NURAIN RATANI
KUCHING: The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Sarawak welcomes the initiative to place officers who can communicate in Mandarin at all international airports nationwide.
Sarawak MATTA chairman Oscar Choo said the decision from the federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) would help to smooth the flow, especially involving travellers from China who has poor command of the English language.
“This initiative will resolve the language barrier issue for tourists from China and they can be given the correct instructions at each airport.
“This will show tourists that Malaysia is a friendly country and serious about being a tourist destination,” he said on Monday (Jan 9).
“For tourists (from China and Mandarin speakers), this will give them peace of mind because they know that when they arrive in Malaysia, communication will not be a problem.”
Choo added that this kind of effort would help increase the number of tourist arrivals and boost the nation’s tourism industry.
Earlier, federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said officials who could converse in Mandarin would be stationed at all international airports throughout the country.
