Malaysia Records 5,460,184 Visitor Arrivals in Q1

Malaysia welcomed 5,460,184 tourists in the first quarter of 2009. In March 2009, tourist arrivals to Malaysia reached 1,975,776, representing an increase of 8.6% from the same time last year.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 23rd International Travel Expo Hong Kong, Zaliha Zainuddin, Director, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (Hong Kong Office), said, “Malaysia is proving to be one of Asia’s most popular destinations for travelers from Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China as they discover our rich tapestry of culture, heritage, natural wonders and entertainment on offer. We are seeing a surge in ecotourism, golfing and diving from this market which suggests a growing preference for nature-based escapes.”

MTPB recently launched “Malaysia 1 + 1” campaign, which gives travelers the flexibility to explore two destinations within the country for the price of one.

This summer, Cathay Pacific and Dragonair will launch 12 chartered flights between Hong Kong and Langkawi in July and August.

“In the current climate, travelers prefer short haul travel and value for money, and Malaysia is well placed to meet the demands of this market. With the increased flights between Hong Kong and Malaysia, we anticipate that even more visitors will discover our fascinating diversity at incredible value,” said Zainuddin.

Malaysia was recently ranked the fourth most value-for-money destination in the Geneva-based World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report (TTCR) 2009.

See other recent news regarding: Travel News Asia, Malaysia, Traffic, April 2009, May 2009