Nazri To Aggressively Promote Tourism Traffic From Major Markets To Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 (Bernama) -- Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz is taking on an aggressive stance to promote Malaysia's tourism sector from major foreign markets in the ongoing Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2014.

He plans to visit the International Tourism Bourse (ITB) in Berlin in March, where Malaysia will be presented at the ITB as a "Cultural and Convention Partner", highlighting the country's cultural attributes and its convention facilities. "In the backdrop of the Visit Malaysia Year 2014, we have been making a pitch in our overseas markets to attract tourists from these regions. Last year, I visited Canada and the USA to attract North American visitors.

"At the just-concluded Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) 2014 in Kuching, Malaysia played host to tour operators, buyers and the international media, and could successfully profile itself as an attractive destination. "We will continue to pro-actively promote Malaysia," Mohamed Nazri told Bernama after the conclusion of the ATF 2014 recently, which he described as a "highly successful event".

But Malaysians have seen strong growth in tourism traffic from the Middle East, particularly the Gulf countries and Iran. While there were less than 27,000 arrivals when tourism from these countries first started, the Middle East tourism traffic had, meanwhile, surged to some 300,000 arrivals in 2012, according to Tourism Malaysia. Middle Eastern visitors, usually, arrive with their children, and feel comfortable with the amenities available in Malaysia, including halal food.

Europe is also a promising market, according to Mohamed Nazri. Tourist arrivals from Europe have increased as European airlines have begun operating services to Malaysia. Air France and Turkish Airlines, which already operate flights to Kuala Lumpur, will soon be joined by German carrier Lufthansa which will start a service on March 30.

"This will, invariably, lead to greater traffic from these countries. Also, the deployment of large-bodied planes with more seating capacity will enable airlines to bring in more passengers to Malaysia," noted Mohamed Nazri.

The VMY 2014 was also fine-tuned to the 1Malaysia concept with which it gelled well. Malaysia's tourism strategists are making what they describe as an all-inclusive effort by also bringing in the ethnic groups of Malaysia into greater focus of tourism, in addition to the Malay, Chinese and Indian communities.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Hamzah Rahmat said in an interview with Bernama after the ATF 2014, that he would like the Malaysian Government to pay "greater attention" to tourism which was inherent with strong revenue potential.

"Tourism can become Malaysia's second highest source of revenue after manufacturing if the government paid greater attention to it," he said, adding that he was "deeply obliged" to the ministry for the opportunity given to Matta to organise the ATF 2014.

Hamzah felt there was room to improve ground transportation by standardising and consolidating licences for ground operators. He said consideration should be given to putting all aspects of tourism, including transportation, under the ministry, rather than letting several agencies handle the various segments of the sector separately.

Currently, Matta has 2,950 member companies out of the country's 3,500 licensed tour and travel agents.
-bernama.