Tourism Malaysia Promotes Visit Malaysia Year 2014 In France

PUTRAJAYA, 1 Oct 2013: Tourism Malaysia made its presence felt in France when it heavily promoted the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 at the International French Travel Market (IFTM) Top Resa from 24 to 27 September at Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles. 

IFTM Top Resa is among the tourism industry’s leading event for networking, doing business, innovating and keeping abreast of market developments across the leisure, business and events sectors.

This year’s IFTM Top Resa saw Malaysia occupying a 62.5 square metre booth for its trade delegation consisting of eight travel agencies, three hotels and resorts, and three tourism bodies.

During the four-day trade show, Tourism Malaysia organised various networking events, delivered presentations on Malaysia’s attractions, and arranged for meetings with trade and media partners. The Director General of Tourism Malaysia Y.Bhg. Dato’ Mirza Mohammad Taiyab officially launched the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 Sales Challenge during the cocktail function on 24 September, an incentive programme for French travel agents to promote Malaysia holiday packages to their clients. He also revealed the improved Tourism Malaysia website specially created for the French market.

Tourism Malaysia booth was visited by several dignitaries including the French Minister for Craft Industries and Trades, Commerce and Tourism Madame Sylvia Pinel, President of the French Travel Agents Association (SNAV) George Colson, President of ASIA Voyages Jean-Paul Chantraine and also Jean Todt.

Following IFTM Top Resa, Tourism Malaysia organises the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 Grand Seminar today for French travel agents to learn in greater depth about Malaysia’s tourism offerings. The one-day seminar, conducted via quizzes, briefings and e-learning modules, will also have presentations by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Malaysia Airlines. The participants will also learn more about the mechanics of the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 Sales Challenge.

France is an important source market for inbound tourists to Malaysia showing impressive growth in the past decade. In 2003, Malaysia received only 23,845 arrivals from France. Last year, a total of 136,172 French tourists visited Malaysia. At the half year mark of 2013, Malaysia received a total of 75,145 arrivals from France.

-Tourism Malaysia.