Malaysia Offers A Diverse Taste Of Asia To Kiwis

AUCKLAND, 10 AUGUST 2015 – New Zealand remains a key Oceania market for Tourism Malaysia as the country seeks to grow the number of international visitors to 36 million and tourism receipts to more than MYR 168 billion (NZ$66.1 billion) by 2020.

Dato’ Azizan Noordin, the Deputy Director General of Tourism Malaysia, says a delegation of travel trade representatives who are accompanying him to New Zealand are keen to share what Malaysia offers to New Zealanders.

He attended the Travel Expo organised by Flight Centre, a travel wholesaler in Auckland (August 8-9) and also met with agents and media at the Tourism Malaysia Roadshow at the Crowne Plaza in Auckland on August 10, 2015. The Malaysian Delegation consist of representatives from the state of Sabah, Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur City Council, Malaysia Healthcare Travel, Hotels and Resorts in Malaysia.

“New Zealanders not only enjoy outdoors and golf, motor sports, cycling and water sports like fishing, diving and sailing, but also seem to relish what we have in the way of diverse cultures and the cuisine to match,” Dato’ Azizan says. “I think the fact that Malaysia is truly diverse and offers a safe and easily accessible taste of Asia is really appealing to New Zealanders.”

In a recent Tourism Malaysia survey New Zealanders were found to be among the country’s top spending tourists per capita. Zalina Ahmad, The Director of Tourism Malaysia in New Zealand says her team has responded by working with Flight Centre to create new shopping packages, some of which coincide with Malaysia’s famous Year End Sale during November and December this year.

The packages were launched at the Travel Expo by Dato’ Azizan and Dato’ Lim Kim Eng, Malaysian High Commissioner designate to New Zealand.

“With sharply priced airfares and accommodation packages combined with the fact that Kiwis get 2.5 times their money when they exchange NZ dollars for Malaysia ringgit, we think these packages will be really attractive for those who like to add a little shopping into the mix when they go on holiday,” says Zalina. 

She continues, “I think some Kiwis are surprised by the malls in Kuala Lumpur. The city has some of the largest malls in Asia and they are more of a destination with 50% of their offering being entertainment. There are also outlet malls and some fantastic street market shopping where Kiwis like to barter.”

Launching of the Discover Malaysia Packages by Dato’ Azizan Noordin,
Deputy Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Dato’ Lim Kim Eng,
Malaysian High Commissioner and Mr Sean Berenson, CEO of Flight Centre NZ

To further emphasise shopping in the region, Zalina has invited Baizuri Baharum, the head of the Shopping Malaysia Secretariat to present Year End Sale packages to agents at the Tourism Malaysia Roadshow.

Other offers for the New Zealand market specifically encourage spending in Kuala Lumpur, including the KL Pass discount card and Showcase KL transit tours for travellers passing through KL onto other destinations.

Dato’ Azizan says tourism is the second largest foreign exchange earner for Malaysia after manufactured goods and is one of the fastest growing economic sectors contributing directly 5.7% of GDP.

“More than 67,000 New Zealand tourist visited Malaysia for holidays, business or to visit friends and family last year,” he says. “We would love to welcome many more.”

The delegation will continue to organize travel mart and meeting with agents in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane, Australia from 11th to 14th August 2015.

-Tourism Malaysia.