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Special Packages to Lure More Chinese to Malaysia
Malaysia hopes to attract 600,000 tourists from China this year but more optimistic projections put that figure at one million.
Lim Kien Yee, a counsellor at the Embassy in charge of tourism, told The Star that Tourism Malaysia was to double its efforts to promote eco-tourism, in addition to tapping the traditional market of meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions from China.
He said as the Chinese become more affluent, they become tourists who are willing to spend more and stay longer. Malaysia is keen to secure a bigger slice of this expanding market.
Malaysia enjoyed the best year in 2002, drawing 558,000 tourists from China because of aggressive promotional efforts. However, the figure dropped to 530,000 last year due to SARS.
Now with more flights between the two countries and more landing points granted to Malaysian Airlines, Lim is optimistic of an at least 10% jump in tourist arrivals from China.
Most tourists from China visit Malaysia on a so-called South-East Asian package which takes them to Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Thailand as well, or opt for a shorter trip covering just Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.
Malaysia will now make efforts to promote a single-destination tour – focusing on the various beach resorts in the country. Destinations popular with the mainland Chinese include Langkawi, Penang, Redang island, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Genting Highlands.
'The mainland Chinese love Redang where they can snorkle and where the sand is very fine. We will promote such destinations alongside those in Sabah,†Lim said.
'Another new product is the honeymoon package which has a huge potential,†he added.
Lim said 82% of the arrivals to Malaysia were holidaymakers, 11% were here for business and 4% to visit friends or relatives. More than 60% came as part of a group tour.
The tsunami tragedy affected Malaysia quite badly as 40% of tours were cancelled during the Chinese New Year peak period.
'We are now back to normal. Our hopes are set on the golden holiday period beginning May 1,†he said.
Beijing 21/03/2005
