Travel restrictions relaxed for tourists from China, three years after the Covid-19 pandemic, has seen them travelling once again with Malaysia becoming a destination of choice.

A check by Berita Harian at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) today found a group of tourists arriving on flights from Hong Kong and Taipei this morning.

Most of them looked cheerful despite three years of restrictions by China on its citizens travelling abroad.

Diana Chui, 39, from Hong Kong said this was her second time in Malaysia and the first time since the pandemic, which made it difficult to travel internationally.

She did not face any difficulties going through checks after arriving from Hong Kong.

"The process went smoothly and there are no obstacles. In fact, it is like before (the pandemic).

"From the moment we landed at the exit at this arrival hall, it was quite smooth.

"Before I boarded the flight to Malaysia as well, we were also not required to do a Covid-19 screening test," she said.

Chui, who will be in Kuala Lumpur for about a week, to take advantage of the current durian season, came with her friend and only took 45 minutes to breeze through the immigration check.

"After three years through the pandemic, everyone understands the consequences and has taken preventive measures for their safety.

"It includes wearing a face mask. Everyone is responsible for their safety and health," she said.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) said health safety measures at airports had been in place since the start of the pandemic and continued to be diligently implemented, especially because of the significant increase in international traffic movements since 2022.

"With the latest easing of travel restrictions by the Chinese government, the group expects the number of international aircraft movements at its network of airports to increase even more in 2023. There have been both inbound and outbound China flights operating at KLIA since April 2022 and these had gradually increased in frequency in the last quarter of the year," it said in a statement here.

MAHB said KLIA was expected to receive 11 flights from China today, namely nine at KLIA's main terminal and two at klia2.

It said the airport would be receiving an average of 10 flights daily in the coming week.

MAHB said the group continued to work closely with the Health Ministry and other relevant agencies to ensure that health safety for all passengers at its network of airports was safeguarded.