Tourism Malaysia Develops Unique Products To Woo Kiwis

AUCKLAND, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- Tourism Malaysia has developed a number of unique offerings to entice Kiwis to visit Malaysia. Presenting Malaysia's Tourism Transformation Plan 2020 at a "Malaysia Truly Asia" event, here Thursday night, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said, as in New Zealand, tourism was critical to Malaysia's economic development. To attract Kiwi tourists, Malaysia had begun to focus on improving tourism products and creating focused tourism "clusters" that leveraged on existing and new iconic products, said Dr Ng, who is on a seven-day visit to New Zealand and Australia to promote tourism.

"Initiatives include a greater focus on ecotourism, major cultural events and activities for young urban professionals. Family-friendly destinations, wellness activities, value for money and a safe, clean environment are some the key drivers of this market," Dr Ng said. To promote Malaysia as a biodiversity hotspot, Tourism Malaysia is putting attention on its flora and fauna and soft adventure options such as jungle-trekking, rafting, bird watching and visits to World Heritage Sites such as the Kinabalu Park in Sabah.

Dr Ng said major cultural events would include a three-month food event from October to December under the Fabulous Food 1Malaysia and the inaugural 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Festival which was launched last month. "The festival is aimed at attracting high-yield tourists to Malaysia and establishing it as a hub for contemporary art in the region," Dr Ng told about 150 travel trade representatives at the event. "The Malaysian Government has also initiated a 1Malaysia Green, 1Malaysia Clean campaign to educate and increase awareness among tour operators and the public on the importance of keeping tourists spots pristine, both to attract visitors and enhance their sustainability," she said.