For Immediate Release
All India, April, 2007, The Minister of Tourism, Malaysia, Hon. Datuk Seri Tengku
Adnan Tengku Mansor, spearheaded a strong 40 member delegation to India for the annual
Sales Mission between 26th February'07 and 3rd March'07 along with senior tourism
officials. This mission was the largest and the strongest delegation that has ever
visited India, and comprised of Malaysian tour operators, hoteliers and State
Tourism Boards. The Sales Mission covered the cities of New Delhi, Hyderabad,
Mumbai and Cochin.
The Indian arrivals to Malaysia have shown a double-digit growth from the
last 5 years. In the year 2006, 279,046 Indians have made visit to
Malaysia, as compared to 225,789 in the year 2005 marking a surge of
over 23.5%. Indians are one of the largest spenders in Malaysia, with
the total tourism receipts from India surging by over 72% in the year
2005 from the previous year, to close at RM 557.5 million.
In a move to catalyse further the arrival figures from India, The Hon.
Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Minister of Tourism, Malaysia
unveiled a first of its kind concept for the Indian market, called the
"VMY Passport" programme.
Positioning Malaysia as an exotic stand alone tourist destination,
the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 campaign intends attracting 400,000
tourist arrivals from India for their Golden Jubilee year. The scheme
involves discounted vouchers of various shopping establishments,
vouchers for exotic cuisine dining, entertainment for full enjoyment
and vouchers also for exclusive theme based site-seeing attractions
spread across the country. The services under the scheme can be utilized
until 31st December 2007.
The VMY Passport would be available from over 1500 Indian travel agents
marketing destination Malaysia and from the airport counters of major
airlines operating to Malaysia from any International gateways in India,
apart from Tourism Malaysia three offices in India.
Hon. Minister of Tourism, Malaysia in his maiden visit to the state capital
Hyderabad, also announced the launch of "Malaysia Kitchen" programme in
India. This programme has commenced with the first investment in a fine
dinning restaurant "Little Penang" in Hyderabad. This investment would be
through Tourism Malaysia subsidiary Pempena and the aim of the programme is
to promote the destination through the cuisine palate.
Under the "Malaysia Kitchen" programme, the company is exploring opportunities
to convert this stand alone outlet into a chain of outlets, which would be
spread in the cities of Chennai, Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore.
This chain of restaurants would then offer exclusive Malaysian cuisine.
Visit to Cochin also marked the Hon. Minister's maiden entry to the Sate
of Kerala, with the objective to achieve and enhance closer bilateral
relations between the State and the country.
Visit Malaysia Year 2007 is a year-long celebration of Malaysia's 50th year
anniversary of independence. Many exciting events and activities are
lined up throughout the year to attract tourists. The Malaysian Government
aims to attract 20.1 million tourists during the period, of which 400,000 are
from India.
As part of the campaign, Malaysia would celebrate more than 240 events
during the year, however, 50, have been selected to represent the best that
Malaysia has to offer. This is in line with the theme "Celebrating 50 years
of nationhood" and plays on the 50 numeral denoting the golden jubilee of the
country's independence. Unveiling of the "Eye on Malaysia", the largest
portable 'observation wheel' in the world, a 60-metre high ferris wheel,
Malaysia International Aerospace Exhibition, Colors of Malaysia, KL
International Tattoo Show and , KL International Busker Festival are
some of the events lined up as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations.
The last day of the Sales Mission at Cochin concluded with a cultural
extravaganza hosted by Tourism Malaysia for corporates and the members
of travel and trade fraternity of South India. Show-casing the myriads
hues and diversity of multi-ethnic Malaysia, the cultural performance
aptly encapsulated the vibrant essence Malaysia, reflecting on a multiplicity
of 'Malaysia Truly-Asia'.
For more information on VMY 2007 events log on to www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my
For further information, please contact
TRAC Representations
Tel :011-23312294 or write to vk@tracrep.com
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