ID :
47284
Tue, 02/24/2009 - 11:58
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/47284
The shortlink copeid
MALAYSIA EYES 1.2 MILLION CHINESE TOURISTS
By Tham Choy Lin
BEIJING, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has upped its target to attract 1.2 million tourists from China this year to surpass the one million mark for the first time.
Enthusiasm for the Chinese market remains strong despite the global slump
because an estimated 50 million would still holiday abroad this year and 55
million next year, Zulkafli Yahya, the new Tourism Malaysia counsellor in
Beijing, said.
"We expect the challenges to be even greater this year but we are hopeful of
achieving this figure by working closely with Chinese travel partners in
promoting Malaysia as a top choice for value-for-money destination," he told
Bernama.
Last year, Chinese arrivals, including from Hong Kong and Macao, to Malaysia
rose 20.3 per cent to 949,864.
While south China is traditionally the strongest market, Tourism Malaysia's
promotion efforts in north has been boosted by budget airline AirAsia's new
service to the port city of Tianjin starting April 2.
"Before this, the number of arrivals from the north is not as many because
of the lack of flights. Now we can promote more actively," said Zulkafli, who is
planning a briefing for the media and travel industry in Tianjin in April.
Tianjin is 30 minutes by high-speed train from Beijing.
Before AirAsia's expansion to Tianjin with five weekly flights, the Beijing
- Kuala Lumpur route is serviced only by Malaysia Airlines and Air China, with
one daily flight each.
"Our strategies for 2009 will be to promote leisure tour for white collar
workers who are currently the biggest group in the Chinese outbound market,"
said Zukafli.
Tourism Malaysia is also eyeing Chinese baby boomers who are reaching
retirement age for the "Malaysia, My Second Home" programme, he added.
Last year, 120 Chinese joined the programme, the fourth biggest number after
Iran, Japan and the United Kingdom, Zulkafli said.
Special groups including golfers, divers and honeymooners would also be
targeted.
Malaysia registered a 37.3 per cent jump in arrivals from China in January
with a total of 100,563.
-- BERNAMA
BEIJING, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has upped its target to attract 1.2 million tourists from China this year to surpass the one million mark for the first time.
Enthusiasm for the Chinese market remains strong despite the global slump
because an estimated 50 million would still holiday abroad this year and 55
million next year, Zulkafli Yahya, the new Tourism Malaysia counsellor in
Beijing, said.
"We expect the challenges to be even greater this year but we are hopeful of
achieving this figure by working closely with Chinese travel partners in
promoting Malaysia as a top choice for value-for-money destination," he told
Bernama.
Last year, Chinese arrivals, including from Hong Kong and Macao, to Malaysia
rose 20.3 per cent to 949,864.
While south China is traditionally the strongest market, Tourism Malaysia's
promotion efforts in north has been boosted by budget airline AirAsia's new
service to the port city of Tianjin starting April 2.
"Before this, the number of arrivals from the north is not as many because
of the lack of flights. Now we can promote more actively," said Zulkafli, who is
planning a briefing for the media and travel industry in Tianjin in April.
Tianjin is 30 minutes by high-speed train from Beijing.
Before AirAsia's expansion to Tianjin with five weekly flights, the Beijing
- Kuala Lumpur route is serviced only by Malaysia Airlines and Air China, with
one daily flight each.
"Our strategies for 2009 will be to promote leisure tour for white collar
workers who are currently the biggest group in the Chinese outbound market,"
said Zukafli.
Tourism Malaysia is also eyeing Chinese baby boomers who are reaching
retirement age for the "Malaysia, My Second Home" programme, he added.
Last year, 120 Chinese joined the programme, the fourth biggest number after
Iran, Japan and the United Kingdom, Zulkafli said.
Special groups including golfers, divers and honeymooners would also be
targeted.
Malaysia registered a 37.3 per cent jump in arrivals from China in January
with a total of 100,563.
-- BERNAMA
