Mutiara Hotels and Resorts looks to Central Asia for increases in tourism arrivals

Tourist arrivals into Malaysia from Central Asia and Russia are showing considerable growth following several successful sales missions to the region by representatives from Malaysia's Mutiara Hotels and Resorts.

The General Manager for Mutiara Burau Bay Beach Resort Langkawi, Mr. Abdul Razak Abdul Kadir, is set to head off to the region for another sales blitz to Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Moscow, Russia.

Mr. Razak commented before his departure for the Moscow International Travel and Tourism Exhibition 2003 (MITT2003) to be held in Moscow from March 26 to 29: "Central Asia is really a pioneer market for Malaysian hotels and resorts to target, but it is a growing on. The potential for increased arrivals is enormous based upon the positive feedback we have received from past guests and our discussions with agents in the region."

The people from this part of the world are rapidly developing economically and, as a result, are looking to travel to exciting destinations like Malaysia."

A sales team representing several ASEAN nations will attend MITT2003. There is synergy in selling South East Asia as a destination rather then the individual countries. The team includes representatives from Bali, Phuket and Malaysia.

Mr. Razak commented: "Selling dual destinations like Phuket and Langkawi makes good sense as people from Central Asia and Russia travel long distances and while they are seeking the sun and beaches, the different cultural experiences in both Thailand and Malaysia are good selling points for both destinations. Langkawi benefits most from such an arrangement as Phuket is already well known in Russia and the nations of the former Soviet  Union, so any arrivals we can divert to Langkawi are a bonus for us. This is yet another reason for reviving direct air connections between Phuket and Langkawi as guests currently have to transit through Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur."

Arrivals from Russia and the former Soviet nations have been growing at Mutiara Burau Bay Beach Resort Langkawi and have increased on the 2002 arrival figures by 12% in just the first two months of 2003. To date, there have been almost 2,000 room nights from this part of the world stay at the Mutiara Langkawi Resort in 2003.

Mr. Razak attributes this increase to several factors. "Our attendance at the various trade shows in this part of the world certainly helps. The agents there now know us and they know we are interested in long-term relationships. The feedback they are receiving from their guests is very favourable as they like Langkawi's sun, sand, beaches, duty free shopping and that they can have fun while they are here. Naturally, our prices are very competitive and they love the attentive service our staff provide. Several  charter flights from Russia directly into Langkawi earlier this year certainly helped too," explained Mr. Razak.

Currently, there are two scheduled flights a week to Kuala Lumpur from Tashkent by Uzbekistan Airways using modern Boeing 767s. Tashkent, in Uzbekistan, is the main hub for Central Asia and Uzbekistan Airways flies to all the leading cities of the former Soviet Union and provides good connections for onward flights to Europe and beyond.

All Central Asian states are emerging from an economic downturn and are being driven by huge reserves of gold, gas and oil. Mr. Razak concluded that there is huge market potential for Malaysian hotels and travel operators in this part of the world. "Our Thai colleagues have been in this market for several years and are reaping the rewards through their persistence. Malaysia is now receiving similar attention from travel agents and travellers throughout the region."