KUALA LUMPUR, 8 March 2024 –
Tourism Malaysia and Mastercard have announced a strategic partnership to
transform the traveler experience and support outreach efforts in preparation
for Visit Malaysia (VM) 2026. The announcement was made during a Memorandum of
Collaboration (MOC) exchange ceremony today. As part of the MOC, Mastercard
will also be named as Tourism Malaysia’s Exclusive Payment Partner, with a
strategic focus on enhancing the shopping segment.
The partnership will focus on four areas:
1. Harnessing data insights and analytics: Mastercard’s regional
Data & Services hub in Kuala Lumpur will provide actionable insights on
traveler spend patterns, needs, and preferences. This aggregated and anonymized
data will benefit travel and tourism authorities, operators, and businesses.
2. Digitizing the entire traveler journey: Tourism Malaysia and
Mastercard will cocreate the Travel Malaysia app, a one-stop solution for
travelers. This app will offer personalized travel content and exclusive offers
throughout the visitor journey, from itinerary planning and bookings to
location-based offers on-the-go. The app is set to launch by 2025.
3.
Developing world-class marketing campaigns: Leveraging Mastercard’s global
reach and marketing capabilities, both organizations will create and roll out
creative,engaging marketing campaigns. The goal is to attract more potential
travelers and capture an incremental 8 million arrivals by 2026.
4.
Curating exclusive Priceless Experiences and Specials for travelers: Mastercard
will introduce its signature Priceless program to Malaysia, offering unique
experiences and exceptional offers for travelers. These dedicated and specially
curated experiences will reflect Malaysia’s attractive proposition as a
one-stop destination to Eat, Play, Shop and Stay, allowing travelers to create
unforgettable memories in the country.
YB Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, Deputy Minister
of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership and its
potential long-term impact on the travel and tourism sector and stated: “The
esteemed partnership with Mastercard highlights our commitment to harness
technology to create a more seamless and innovative travel experience in
Malaysia. By using data and insights, we aim to improve visitor satisfaction
and continuously innovate to engage with travelers. This collaboration is a
significant step towards digitizing Malaysia's travel and tourism sector,
providing a hassle-free and enriched experience for visitors exploring our
diverse offerings.”
"In
2023, Malaysia welcomed 20.14 million visitors, with tourism receipts reaching
RM71.3 billion. Shopping activities constituted 33.9% of total expenditure,
contributing to a remarkable RM24.1 billion. With a focus on the shopping
segment, we aim to leverage our collaboration with Mastercard to create
distinctive experiences, positioning Malaysia as a premier global shopping
destination," said Mr. Manoharan Periasamy, Director General of Tourism
Malaysia.
"Mastercard is thrilled to partner with
Tourism Malaysia in revitalizing and transforming the tourism sector. This
strategic collaboration aims to digitize Malaysia’s growing travel industry and
position the country as a digital-first destination. With Visit Malaysia 2026
approaching, Mastercard will leverage its global expertise, data insights, and
engagement program, Priceless, to support Malaysia’s growth and enhance its
appeal as a top travel destination in the Asia Pacific region,” said Mr. Safdar
Khan, Division President, Southeast Asia, Mastercard.
The
partnership with Tourism Malaysia and Mastercard as the Exclusive Payment
Partner is aimed at enhancing the shopping segment, which contributes
significantly to the tourism sector’s growth. Leveraging Mastercard’s global
presence and international expertise, this collaboration elevates Malaysia’s
status as a preferred shopping destination, enriching the retail experience for
travelers. The commitment represents a seamless extension and integration of
Mastercard’s Priceless program offers, underscoring Tourism Malaysia’s
unwavering dedication to delivering unparalleled experiences and value.
In the current year, Malaysia aims to attract
27.3 million international tourist arrivals, with a target of over RM102.7
billion in tourism receipts. Looking ahead to Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM 2026),
the country envisions welcoming 35.6 million visitors, generating target
receipts of RM147.1 billion. These goals align with Malaysia’s Tourism Strategy
2020-2030, which focuses on enhancing the country’s competitiveness as a top
travel destination for international visitors.
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