ID :
141273
Wed, 09/08/2010 - 14:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/141273
The shortlink copeid
MALAYSIA TO TARGET 1.5 MILLION THAI TOURISTS BY YEAR END
From Voon Miaw Ping
BANGKOK, Sept 8 (Bernama) -– Malaysia is set to attract 1.5 million Thai
visitors by year-end, aiming to ring the tourism cash register to the tune of
RM1.7 billion (US$543.1 million), said Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen.
She said Malaysia was well on the right direction to achieve the figure, and
recapture the Thai market through introduction of various new initiatives and a
more aggressive collaboration with local Thai tour operators.
“Thailand has always been an important tourist market for us. We are
re-positioning ourselves through new products and initiatives to attract a
bigger segment of the market, especially the high-end and long haul Thai
tourists,” she told Malaysian reporters here Tuesday.
She said among others, Malaysia was capitalising on the Thai love for
shopping, and would introduce to them fascinating shopping experiences in the
country, which is an all-year round activities, besides strenghtening on
promotion on eco-tourism.
According to the data from Tourism Malaysia, about 1.45 million Thai
tourists had visited Malaysia last year, as compared to 1.49 million in 2008.
Meanwhile, as at June, some 712,410 Thai tourists had visited Malaysia, as
compared to 734,115 in the corresponding period last year.
Dr Ng attributed the decline of three per cent in arrival to the political
instability in the Kingdom, of late.
During her six-day working mission to the Kingdom here, the minister met
with her Thai counterpart, Chumpol Silapa-archa, to discuss a wide range of
issues involving the industry, apart from future plans to collaborate to boost
tourism in both countries.
She also launched Tourism Malaysia's Thai language website and brochures
with the tagline, 'It's All Here and Easy', which is aimed at providing wider
accessibility of information and tourism packages to the Thais.
Apart from that, Dr Ng also met with about 100 Thai tour operators who have
been instrumental in selling Malaysia’s tourism.
“One of my main reasons here is also to explain to them about our decision
requiring their tourist vehicles to register with us (Tourism Malaysia) before
being allowed to bring tourists into Malaysia via the border,” she said, adding
that the new ruling which was expected to be implemented next month, was
well-received by the Thais.
On another note, Dr Ng also called on Malaysian tour operators to work
closely with their Thai partners to develop more tourism packages to attract
more Thais to visit Malaysia.
“Tourism is very private sector-driven. And I hope that more of our tour
operators will join hands with their counterparts in Thai to create more
innovative and creative packages for the Thai market,” she added.
-- BERNAMA
BANGKOK, Sept 8 (Bernama) -– Malaysia is set to attract 1.5 million Thai
visitors by year-end, aiming to ring the tourism cash register to the tune of
RM1.7 billion (US$543.1 million), said Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen.
She said Malaysia was well on the right direction to achieve the figure, and
recapture the Thai market through introduction of various new initiatives and a
more aggressive collaboration with local Thai tour operators.
“Thailand has always been an important tourist market for us. We are
re-positioning ourselves through new products and initiatives to attract a
bigger segment of the market, especially the high-end and long haul Thai
tourists,” she told Malaysian reporters here Tuesday.
She said among others, Malaysia was capitalising on the Thai love for
shopping, and would introduce to them fascinating shopping experiences in the
country, which is an all-year round activities, besides strenghtening on
promotion on eco-tourism.
According to the data from Tourism Malaysia, about 1.45 million Thai
tourists had visited Malaysia last year, as compared to 1.49 million in 2008.
Meanwhile, as at June, some 712,410 Thai tourists had visited Malaysia, as
compared to 734,115 in the corresponding period last year.
Dr Ng attributed the decline of three per cent in arrival to the political
instability in the Kingdom, of late.
During her six-day working mission to the Kingdom here, the minister met
with her Thai counterpart, Chumpol Silapa-archa, to discuss a wide range of
issues involving the industry, apart from future plans to collaborate to boost
tourism in both countries.
She also launched Tourism Malaysia's Thai language website and brochures
with the tagline, 'It's All Here and Easy', which is aimed at providing wider
accessibility of information and tourism packages to the Thais.
Apart from that, Dr Ng also met with about 100 Thai tour operators who have
been instrumental in selling Malaysia’s tourism.
“One of my main reasons here is also to explain to them about our decision
requiring their tourist vehicles to register with us (Tourism Malaysia) before
being allowed to bring tourists into Malaysia via the border,” she said, adding
that the new ruling which was expected to be implemented next month, was
well-received by the Thais.
On another note, Dr Ng also called on Malaysian tour operators to work
closely with their Thai partners to develop more tourism packages to attract
more Thais to visit Malaysia.
“Tourism is very private sector-driven. And I hope that more of our tour
operators will join hands with their counterparts in Thai to create more
innovative and creative packages for the Thai market,” she added.
-- BERNAMA
