The Malacca state government aims to increase three million tourists from China via a direct flight from Guangzhou to Malacca starting Sept 29, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron.

"The tourism sector has been showing positive growth every year, it recorded the arrival of 15.7 million tourists in 2015, an increase of 4.7 percent compared with 15 million the previous year.

"Tourism promotion will be continued both within and overseas to achieve the target of 16.5 million tourist arrivals this year."

He said this at the investiture ceremony to confer awards and medals to mark the 78th birthday Malacca Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob at Dewan Seri Negeri, Ayer Keroh, here, Saturday.

At the ceremony, 228 people received awards and medals preceded by Idris who was the sole recipient of the Darjah Utama Negeri Melaka (DUNM), which carries the title 'Datuk Seri Utama'.

On Sept 29, Malacca International Airport received its first charter flight carrying 122 passengers from Guangzhou to Malacca operated by China Southern Airlines. -- Bernama