Woo tourists from China, Oz and NZ, tour agents advised

Local tour and travel agencies should promote Malaysia more aggressively in countries such as China, Australia, and New Zealand since Europe and US are still experiencing an economic slowdown. “The Australian, China, and New Zealand currencies are now strong and their citizens are in a position to devote more on overseas travelling.

“Thus, we must promote the country harder to these markets. We will not be the only ones making such a move as other holiday destinations such as Thailand and Singapore are also working hard to attract visitors from these countries,” the Malaysian Association of Tours and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun said. In view of growing competition, the country’s travel trade members must be more competitive in terms of offering cost effective rates and quality services, Mohd Khalid said.

He spoke after the launch of the annual MATTA Fair 2011 at the Penang International Sports Arena (PISA) by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Khalid said over 100,000 visitors were expected at the three-day fair, which began yesterday compared to over 80,000 in 2010. “There are now 305 exhibitors, compared to 303 a year ago,” he said.

Lim said based on figures from the Malaysian Association of Hotels Penang chapter, the average occupancy rate for the first half of 2011 was at 62%, compared to 56% for the same corresponding period last year. Lim also said that Penang was recently voted online by Yahoo Travel as the ‘Eighth Must-Explore Island in the World.’ “This puts us alongside islands such as Bali, Bora-Bora, and Key West,” he said. The MATTA Fair 2011 opens daily from 10am until 9pm from now until Sunday, and the admission is RM2 for a single adult and free for children below the age of 12.

-thestar online.