MALAYSIA EXPECTS MORE SOUTH KOREAN TOURISTS THIS YEAR

From Noor Shamsiah Mohamed

SEOUL, July 22 (Bernama) -- The number of South Korean tourists to Malaysia this year is expected to rise to 300,000 from 264,000 last year, Tourism Malaysia Korea director Mohd Amirul Rizal said Friday.

He said the 20 per cent increase was expected following the closer ties resulting from the visits here by Malaysian King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin on July 19 and Prime Minister Najib Razak in April.

"Although we registered a 12 per cent drop in tourists for the first quarter of this year due to concerns following the earthquakes in Japan, we expect the figure to increase starting mid-year," he told Bernama at his office here.

He said more direct flights to and from the two countries, including Air Asia X flights which started last November, would also encourage more tourists to visit Malaysia.

Mohd Amirul said there were currently 35 flights from South Korea to Malaysia per week, with 21 of the flights to Kuala Lumpur and 14 to Kota Kinabalu, capital of East Malaysia state of Sabah.

He said most South Korean holidaymakers preferred Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur because of the closer distance and direct flights, as well as the beautiful beaches in Sabah.

"We are also actively promoting other places, such as Langkawi, Penang, Johor Baharu and the east coast through the Make It Malaysia programme," he added.

He said Malaysian destinations were also promoted at the Korea World Travel Fair and promotional tours in Busan, Deajon and Deaso.

Students were targeted at summer camps and golfers were encouraged to go on a golfing holiday in Malaysia, he added.