Malaysia To Draw More Tourists From China

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is to go on an aggressive promotion campaign to draw more tourists from China as they have the potential to generate for Malaysia revenue of more than RM3 billion annually, Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk James Dawos Mamit said Friday. He said Chinese tourists loved to come to Malaysia but were unaware of what Malaysia had to offer due to a lack of promotion in their country. As such, promotion efforts would be beefed up in China's magazines, televisions and newspapers and through their travel agents, he told a news conference after launching the Malaysia Airlines-Malaysian International Travel Mart (MAS-MITM) Travel Fair 2010, here.

Dawos said Chinese tourists contributed about RM2.7 billion in revenue for Malaysia last year. Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) president Paul Paw said roadshows would be organised to promote Malaysia in various cities in China. "We will organise roadshows and go to every city in China. There will be dialogues, exhibitions and many more," he said, adding that the association would meet Tourism Ministry officers soon to plan the roadshows. The MAS-MITM Travel Fair, at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre from today to Aug 15, is making available bargains for travel enthusiasts.

Malaysia Airlines senior general manager (sales and marketing) Datuk Bernard Francis said the national carrier was offering discounts of up to 70 per cent of the normal fares to a wide range of destinations, including in China and Europe. Customers could fly to Medan (Indonesia) for as low as RM169 one way by purchasing the airfare at the fair and avail themselves of a travel package for as low as RM939 for a four-day/three-night trip to Sydney, Australia. Francis said MAS expected to register RM20 million to RM25 million in sales from the event, which was expected to draw 60,000 visitors. "There will be no hidden charges; what you see is what you get," he said.