The Malaysian government is optimistic of achieving its target of getting one million tourists from China to visit the country by the end of the year, despite the influenza A (H1N1) pandemic.

Expressing her confidence, Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said Thursday this was because various strategies and promotions had and were being carried out by national tourism promotion agency, Tourism Malaysia, with the co-operation of other players in the industry.

"Tourists from China are a big contributor to Malaysia’s tourism industry where 949,845 came here last year compared to 260,083 the previous year."

Ng said the trip, made between July 10 and 24, was her second mission to China during which her delegation visited Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan and Guangzhou, and held several meetings and dialogues with tourism industry players there to promote Malaysia.

"Why China again? It is because tourist arrivals from China has been affected by the A (H1N1) pandemic, with the number of arrivals having dropped badly," said Ng, who added that the pandemic had also affected tourist arrivals from Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.

"As far as H1N1 is concern, Malaysia is very safe. We have taken the necessary preventive measures," she said.

Ng also said that Malaysian low cost carrier, AirAsia Berhad, the region's biggest budget airline, had signed an agreement with the Wuhan authorities to provide direct flights between Kuala Lumpur and Wuhan beginning October.

Ng, who said China Southern Airlines had agreed to provide direct flights to the northern Malaysian resort island of Langkawi twice weekly effective Aug 4, added that this would further boost Malaysia as a tourist destination for people in China.