Malaysia Makes Strong Pitch At New York Times Travel Show

photo: The New York - Travel Show facebook

NEW YORK, March 2 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is making a strong pitch at the three-day New York Times Travel Show which opened Saturday and is considered to be the United States' east coast's most important event for the travel and tourism trade.

"The New York Times Travel Show is the leading travel show on the east coast,  that's why we are participating in this show. "You see many Asian countries here, including from the ASEAN group," explained Johanif Ali, the vice president of Tourism Malaysia's New York office, in an interview with BERNAMA at the show.

Johanif, who also gave a presentation on Friday on Malaysia during a 'Focus on Asia' seminar, highlighted some of the attractive attributes of Malaysia as a destination such as nature, culture, relaxation and cuisine. He also presented some unique travel options and trends available to those travelling to Asia this year.

"I highlighted the options available to travellers to Southeast Asia that they could have a package of dual or triple destinations which would have greater appeal than a solo destination. "The seminar, which was organized by the Pacific Asia Travel Association, was attended by tour operators, travel agents, media, hoteliers and others connected with the industry," Johanif said.

According to Tourism Malaysia's New York office, some 246,000 arrivals from the entire US were recorded in Malaysia in 2013, posting a 2.8 per cent increase over the previous year.

Asked about the trends he discerned for the current year, Johanif said that based on feedback he had received from both Malaysian and American sources, Americans were increasingly finding Malaysia an interesting destination. "I have been told by Malaysian friends, including tourist guides, that they are having more and more American tourists who take cruise ships to Singapore and then come for a day to Malaysia.

"My contacts tell us that they are completely booked because of the American arrivals," Johanif said, adding that he sees a "substantial rise in this trend".

Tourism Malaysia's New York office has, meanwhile, lined up a number of programmes to bolster its promotional activities in the United States. For 2014, for example, it will continue with its digital bill board ad at New York's Times Square, which has its annual 'ball drop' - the countdown to the ending of the year and the ushering in of the new year - and which is a busy and popular tourist attraction not only for Americans but also foreign tourists.

The bill board advertising will run from March 1, 2014 to February 28, 2015. Another project that Johanif is overseeing from New York is a six-night visit by the advisory board of Travel & Leisure, a leading travel/tourism magazine, to Malaysia; the visitors will discuss with Malaysian operators a wide range of travel and tourism issues.

"We are going to continue with our tactical campaigning. "Our stand this year at the New York Times Travel Show is bigger to accommodate the growing number of visitors to our stand. "We will hold eight seminars this year instead of four in the past to intensify our exchanges with tour operators, travel agents.

"Another promotional project I have in mind is a bus or a large van that will have large bill boards about Malaysia's tourism attractions and will ply not just in New York but on the entire east coast. "The vehicle will also be accompanied by a cultural troupe attired in colourful Malaysian costumes, handing out brochures and having fun games to engage the public. "The vehicle, which will be fitted with a large screen, will operate in the summer season," he said.

An added attraction of Malaysia's participation at the ongoing NYTTS is the presence of Malaysian cuisine specialist and writer, Susheela Raghavan, who is presenting her curry creations at the Taste of the World stage. Americans, known for their weakness for curry food, will be encouraged to sample some of Raghavan's food creations which will consist of traditional Malaysian dishes.

"The way to a man's heart is indeed through the stomach," an American travel agent commented about the sampling of Raghan's culinary delights. She has authored a popular book called "The Flavors of Malaysia: A Journey Through Times, Tastes and Traditions," and will later sign copies of the book under "Books for Call".
-bernama.