KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 13 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) — The Sanya Tourism Development Bureau of China’s Hainan Province signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Tourism Malaysia on April 2. This collaboration will further strengthen tourism ties between the two destinations during “Visit Malaysia Year 2026” and jointly promote tourism initiatives. Tourism Malaysia has officially become a “Strategic Tourism Promotion Partner of Sanya.” Furthermore, the Sanya Tourism Development Bureau has engaged in cooperative exchanges with the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) and the Malaysian Budget Hotel Association (MBHA) to enhance synergies in tourism management, product development, and tourist exchange. The Sanya Tourism Overseas Promotion (Malaysia) Liaison Office was officially established, providing greater convenience for local residents to access information and book travel products.
China’s visa-free policy for Malaysian citizens visiting Hainan allows a 15-day stay with just a passport, no visa or extra documents needed. The direct flight from Kuala Lumpur to Sanya takes about three hours, with rising demand. Both sides are exploring direct flights to Penang and Kota Kinabalu. Sanya’s airport and cruise port have gone paperless, with international arrival halls accepting international credit cards and offering multilingual signs and services. Local support includes the 12345 foreign-language hotline and a multilingual website (www.visitsanya.com).
