UPTREND OF DANISH HOLIDAY MAKERS TO M'SIA EXPECTED TO GROW

From Voon Miaw Ping

COPENHAGEN, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- Encouraged by the good number of Danish
tourists to Malaysia this year, Tourism Malaysia will further strengthen its
strategies to boost arrivals especially in the coming winter break.

Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said 20,161 Danes visited Malaysia up to
September, a steady increase from 12,773 in 2006, 19,773 in 2007 and
23,817 last year.

Ng is confident that the uptrend will continue despite the global economic
uncertainties and competition from other countries such as Thailand and Spain
where the Danes tend to holiday during the winter.

"This is one of the key Europe markets that we seriously focus on. We have
all the right packages that the Danes want for a holiday, the sun, nature and
our very own unique cultural identity," she said after a "Malaysia Truly Asia"
presentation and a dinner for some 30 key Danish tourism players here on Friday
night.

"This winter would be especially a good time to attract the long-term Danish
holiday-makers to Malaysia and to encourage them to participate in the homestay
and Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programmes."

In wrapping up a week-long tourism mission to three Scandinavian countries,
Ng said the MM2H was the best value-for-money product for these long-haul
holiday makers.

Homestays would be promoted as a healthy, family-oriented and education
enriching programme for all groups of Danish tourists including children.

At the event, Ng also took to the floor to teach the Danish guests the
"Cuti-cuti 1Malaysia" dance which combines various traditional ethnic dances.

Ng also received feedback from tour operators and the experiences of Danish
tourists who visited Malaysia.

"They tell me that they love to come Malaysia, but certain experience
especially with unscrupulous taxi drivers had spoilt their vacation," she said.

A frequent visitor to Malaysia, Allan Hoffery said Malaysia had all the
right ingredients to become a key tourist destination for the Danes except for
its taxi drivers.

"They always refused to use the meter. Once, a taxi driver wanted to charge
me RM20 (US$5.88) from Chinatown to Ritz Carlton Hotel and I say no, and he
asked me to walk.

"I think it is really a pity. Your government is working so hard and invest
so much to boost the industry, but the effort is tainted by such unethical
attitudes," said Hoffery, who is a Singapore Airlines sales manager for Denmark.
-- BERNAMA