Tourism Malaysia Office In Turkey A Valuable Investment - Nazri

ISTANBUL, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- The re-opening of Malaysia's tourism promotion office here has been described by Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz as a valuable investment.

He said it also reflected the importance of the Turkish market to Malaysia. "We're happy to be back on Turkish soil to leverage on both our governments' long-standing relationship and positive outlook of tourism in this part of the world," he said at a gathering attended by members of the Turkish travel trade fraternity here.

A Tourism Malaysia office was opened here in 2002 but was closed in 2009. It was re-opened in 2011 and headed by its director, Bahruddin Sulaiman. The minister is on a mission to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2014 in Turkey, Romania and London until Nov 5.

With Malaysia expecting some 28 million visitors next year, Mohamed Nazri told his audience: "I'm hoping that you and your tour groups will become part of these 28 million tourists we're eager to welcome next year." Those who attended the event were treated to an array of authentic Malaysian cuisine and a spectacular cultural show.

Malaysia welcomed 9,909 tourists from Turkey last year and expects to receive 10,300 this year and 11,000 in 2014. A Muslim country with multi-cultural population and diverse attractions, he said Malaysia should appeal to Turkish visitors.

The minister alluded to an agreement between Malaysia and Turkey in 2011 to drop all visa requirements, a move that would favour and facilitate travel between the two countries. Besides natural attractions, Mohamed Nazri also took the opportunity to tout Malaysia's superb shopping experience as attested by a survey covering other international shopping havens.

"Apart from being the fourth best shopping city in the world after New York, Tokyo and London in a CNN global news network survey, Kuala Lumpur is also ranked the second best shopping destination in Asia-Pacific in a Globe Shoppers index survey," he said.

Nazri also noted that Malaysia was a value-for-money holiday destination as it cost less to have a luxurious holiday.
-bernama.