Tourism Malaysia Targets 12,000 Iranian Tourists During Nowruz

TEHRAN, IRAN, 23 JANUARY 2018 – Tourism Malaysia aims to welcome some 12,000 Iranian tourists to Malaysia during the Iranian new year holiday, Nowruz, which is from 20 March to 2 April.

As part of efforts to achieve this goal, Tourism Malaysia is currently in Tehran participating in the 11^th Tehran International Tourism Exhibition 2018 (TITEX) from today until 26 January. It is the main Iranian tourism exhibition held annually in Tehran, and in which Malaysia has been participating since 2009.

Tourism Malaysia’s participation in TITEX this year sees seven tourism industry players from Malaysia including travel agents, hotels/resorts and airlines namely Air Asia X, Mahan Air, Shangri La Hotels, Palm Beach Tour and Travel Company, Toranj Tour and Travel Company, Gulliver Tour and Travel Company, and Pearl Island Holiday Travel Agency.

Leading the Malaysian delegation is Datuk Musa Yusof, Senior Director of International Promotions (Asia and Africa), who says, “Iran has been among the top-performing markets for Malaysia with potential for stronger growth. Our presence here at TITEX today is part of our marketing plan to pursue this market and show support to our industry partners here in Iran.”

Malaysia’s participation in the exhibition provides an avenue for Malaysia tourism industry players to network and solicit for new business with the Iranian counterparts. It is also a platform to update the industry players of Malaysia’s latest tourism developments and strengthen awareness on Malaysia as an ideal holiday destination for this market.

In 2016, Iran was among the top five markets with highest per capita expenditure in Malaysia amounting to RM6,696.70.

In addition, the first ten months of 2017 registered almost 50,000 tourist arrivals from Iran to Malaysia, showing a 27.1% growth compared to the same period in 2016.

Based on surveys conducted by Tourism Malaysia, Iranian tourists enjoy visiting our islands and beaches and shopping.

The strong performance from the Iran market is a result of Tourism Malaysia’s aggressive promotion in Iran in 2017. In May 2017, Tourism Malaysia organised a special familiarisation trip for Iranian industry players and media to Sabah and Redang Island.

Following this, three seminars were held in Tehran, Esfahan and Masshad to update Iranian travel agents and media on Malaysia as a preferred holiday destination.

Tourism Malaysia has a dedicated marketing representative stationed in Tehran to handle the promotion of Malaysia in this market. The Malaysian ambassador in Iran has also been instrumental in the promotion of Malaysia as a holiday destination for Iranians.

Currently, there are nine weekly flights operated by Mahan Air and Air Asia from Iran to Malaysia offering 3,083 seats.

-Tourism Malaysia.