The Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) has announced that it aims to reach the 50,000 mark – for the number of UAE tourists visiting Malaysia in a year – in 2007, as it unveiled details of a strategic partnership with Singapore Airlines (SIA) to…
The Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MTPB) has announced that it aims to reach the 50,000 mark – for the number of UAE tourists visiting Malaysia in a year – in 2007, as it unveiled details of a strategic partnership with Singapore Airlines (SIA) to promote a special travel package for the UAE’s residents, in line with the ‘Visit Malaysia Year 2007’ campaign launched earlier this year.
The announcement was made on Monday, October 8, 2007, at a joint press conference held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, during which senior officials from the MTPB expressed their optimism regarding significant growth in the number of Middle East tourists in 2007, and mentioned that they are well on track to attract a total of 300,000 tourists from the region by the end of this year.
As part of the MTPB’s regional campaign to boost the country’s tourism industry, Singapore Airlines has introduced a specially-designed three days / two nights holiday package to three prime destinations in Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Langkawi. Malaysia is one of Singapore Airline’s top-selling destinations, and the airline is targeting to promote this special holiday package in Dubai from October to November 2007. Moreover, the airline has worked closely with the MTPB to come up with a package that specifically caters to the preferences of Dubai’s residents.
“Malaysia’s rich cultural heritage and natural attractions have made it one of the favorite destinations for tourists all over the world, and taken Malaysia’s tourism industry growth to new heights,” said Tuan Razali Tuan Omar, Director, MTPB. “In the UAE alone, we have experienced an overwhelming growth of 22.2 per cent from last year, a figure we intend to better this year with our efforts to target Dubai’s residents who have always fancied a holiday in Malaysia. Through our partnership with Singapore Airlines, we hope to make their trip to Malaysia very pleasant, comfortable and more importantly affordable.”
Malaysia attracted a multitude of tourists from the Middle East, with numbers rising up to more than 180,000 in 2006 prior to the launch of ‘Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2007’, and this year around 300,000 tourists from the region are expected to visit the country. Exciting theme parks and awe-inspiring natural wonders such as Sunway Lagoon and Genting Highlands, the pristine beaches in Langkawi and Penang, along with a choice of luxurious shopping malls, are some of the attractions that await tourists in this culturally-affluent country.
Speaking at the press conference, MeowSeng Lim, General Manager Gulf, Singapore Airlines, said, “Our partnership with the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board brings us closer to our goal of providing people with a more personal and relaxing travel experience. With our desire to offer the best vacation experience possible, we have introduced specially made Holiday Packages, which will make the Malaysia escapade all the more appealing to a wider range of vacationers.”
“The specially designed package includes Return Air Ticket, Hotel Accommodation, Airport/Hotel transfers, Daily American Breakfast, Complimentary Ticket for Eye on Malaysia and a host of other benefits offered through Singapore Airlines Boarding Pass Privileges. Singapore Airlines Boarding Pass opens up a wealth of privileges for the travelers by simply presenting their Boarding Pass at over 300 locations for discounts on shopping, dining, tourist attractions and transport services. Boarding Pass Privileges is available in two cities in Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur & Penang. We are positive that Malaysia’s vast array of tourist attractions, and the hospitality and warmth of its people, will be key factors that will continuously draw visitors from countries such as UAE,” added Lim.
This month, Singapore Airlines will make aviation history as the First Airline to take delivery of and operate the world’s first double-decker aircraft, the Airbus A380. SIA operates 10 Non-stop weekly flights from Dubai to Singapore and 3 weekly non-stop flights from Abu Dhabi to Singapore with convenient connections to 5 cities in Malaysia.
Malaysia’s exciting roster of events scheduled for the year is also expected to attract visitors from the UAE. On top of the list is the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix, a World Championship event that will feature world-renowned bikers such as Valentino Rossi (Italy), Casey Stoner (Australia), and Randy de Puniet (France). Set to take place at the Sepang International Circuit in Selangor, from October 19 to 21, 2007, the much-anticipated event in the racing scene is expected to attract more than 50,000 spectators from around the globe. Other exciting events lined-up for 2007 include the ‘Malaysia International Gourmet Festival’ which is set to take place from November 2 to 29, 2007 and will gather the world’s best chefs and offer their distinct menus in Malaysia’s finest restaurants. In addition, the ‘Year End Sale Carnival’, a month-long retail extravaganza, scheduled from December 01, 2007 to January 01, 2008, which will see participation from 200 international shopping malls all over the country.
“On top of the natural and man-made wonders our country has to offer, it is the charm of the people and the festive events, which draws more and more tourists to Malaysia each year. The ‘Visit Malaysia Year 2007’ campaign has been an amazing success, and we expect to continue reaping the fruits of our efforts until the end of the year,” concluded Omar.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
