Jump In Number Of Aussies Visiting Malaysia
By Neville D'Cruz
MELBOURNE, June 26 -- There has been a significant increase in the number of Australians visiting Malaysia in the early part of this year, Tourism Malaysia director, Australia, Mohd Roslan Abdullah said.
"January to April saw an increase of 21.6 per cent, compared with the same period last year," he told a sales mission here.
"Last year, Australia accounted for more than half a million visitors to Malaysia, making it our eighth strongest market.
"To capitalise on the Australia outbound travel and to tap into the massive potential that this market presents, a more focused and concerted effort is being undertaken."
Roslan said Australia has always been an important source market for inbound tourists to Malayaia.
"So it is only natural for us to intensify our promotional efforts here to ensure the continuous growth in Australia," he told more than 120 travel agents and tour operators here.
He said the promotion of Visit Malaysia Year 2014 was paying dividends and he was confident Malaysia will see more Australian visitors.
The managing director of Penang Global Tourism, Ooi Geok Ling, and the chief executive of Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council, Dr Mary Wong Lai Lin, also addressed the meeting.
Wong said more foreigners were travelling to Malaysia for medical and health reasons and found the facilities excellent.
Ooi said Penang was fast becoming a bustling island state of tourists from overseas and the mainland.
Wong also spoke to a group of business people at the Malaysian General Consulate here, arranged by the Consul General Datuk Dr Mohd Rameez Yahaya.
-- BERNAMA
