Speech by HE Dato? S. Thanarajasingam
Ambassador of Malaysia to France at the
?Travel and Profit Workshop?
Date : 14 June 2007
Venue : Hotel Sofitel Champs-Elysées
Time : 1900 hrs
Ms. Adlina Borhan, Director of Tourism Malaysia
Mr. Zainuddin Mohammad, General Manager, Malaysia Airlines
Monsieur Michel Fernet, Managing Director of Sofitel Champs-Elysées
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Evening / Bonsoir / Selamat Petang,
It is indeed an honour and privilege for me to meet all of you at this ?Travel and Profit Workshop? this evening, organized by Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Airlines. This workshop is part of the activities being held to promote Malaysian tourism, gastronomy, culture and crafts in Paris this week.
2. I am grateful to all of you as your presence here tonight demonstrates your interest to learn about Malaysia and what Malaysia has to offer. Eventually you can all help me to get more French to know about Malaysia.
3. This initiative is timely as Malaysia celebrates its 50 years of independence with various activities undertaken and planned throughout 2007, including the Visit Malaysia Year which runs through 2008. For Malaysia and France, this year is significant as it also marks 50 years of the establishment of Malaysia-France relations.
4. Indeed, Malaysia-France relations are close and friendly. Although we are not a Francophone, we are making important strides to cater to French-speaking tourists. These measures will continue to bear fruit over a period of time. The more French-speaking tourists visit Malaysia, it will result in more improved services for them as well.
5. The first three months of 2007 has seen very encouraging development in terms of French tourists to Malaysia. Tourist arrival from France in 2006 was 49,378, an increase of 22% from 40,473 in 2005. This year, our target is to bring in 70,000 French tourists to Malaysia as we expect 20 million tourists to visit Malaysia in 2007. Although the number of French tourist flow to Malaysia currently is negligible, I believe that there are vast potentials for increased flows.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
6. The primary purpose of this workshop tonight is to answer the question ?Why should a French tourist visit Malaysia??. Let me give you six reasons why I think increased French tourists should visit Malaysia.
7. Firstly, French tourists in Malaysia will certainly contribute to the deepening of bonds of friendship between our two countries and our peoples. Enhanced people-to-people contact is an important pillar of the overall relations between our two countries. It is through such closer contacts, that French people will understand and appreciate the warmth and hospitality of the Malaysian people, which is in fact our biggest tourism-promoting asset.
8. Secondly, Malaysia is a safe, affordable, quality, friendly and a complete destination, rich with diversity of people, culture and cuisine. We are politically stable and the Malaysian economy has continued to grow as we pursue our mission and vision of achieving a developed nation status by 2020. Malaysia?s GDP growth is projected to grow 5.5% this year to 5.6% next year. Our economic fundamentals are sound and strong.
9. Thirdly, the availability of fantastic and abundant opportunities in the areas of ecotourism, including the 130 million year-old forest of the national park in the state of Pahang as well as the Langkawi island, which was declared a UNESCO geopark earlier this month. The world-famous Mulu caves, the adorable orang-utans and the world?s biggest flower Rafflesia should whet your appetite to visit Malaysia. With more than 250 interesting and scenic golf courses, incredible diving locations and relaxing spas, no serious tourists should miss Malaysia. For those interested in shopping, gastronomy and multiculturalism Malaysia is the destination. These natural wonders such as Mulu Caves and man-made wonders, such as the Petronas Twin Towers are ONLY to be found in Malaysia. Malaysia has excellent healthcare system offering easy access to medical treatment at public and private clinics and hospitals. Malaysian healthcare tourism is growing, banking on the country?s excellent health facilities and reasonable prices to attract tourists.
10. Fourthly, Malaysia is a value for money destination. Indeed, sometimes high-end foreign tourists cannot believe that 5-star facilities can be so affordable. There have intact been instances where these tourists that the price offers are too low to be credible. But I want to assure you that our hotels are truly top-notch and prices extremely competitive! Out of 71 cities surveyed by UBS Bank of Switzerland, Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital was ranked as the top budget-friendly city in the world, based on the cost of a basket of 122 goods and services.
11. Fifthly, for those who fall in love with Malaysia and wish to stay longer, the Malaysian Government also welcomes foreigners to stay in the country under the ?Malaysia-My Second Home? programme. I would invite more French making Malaysia their second home as well.
12. Sixthly, traveling to Malaysia from Paris is hassle-free travel. Malaysian Airlines flies directly and daily between Kuala Lumpur and Paris within 13 hours. The Malaysian Government has continued to simplify the visa regime to enhance greater flow of genuine tourists to Malaysia. In the case of French passport holders, they do not need visa for travel not extending three months stay in Malaysia. It is certainly my expectation that all of you your friends and clients will travel to Malaysia during this Visit Malaysia Year and beyond.
13. With these words, let me declare this Workshop open and wish you a pleasant and fruitful deliberation. Bonne soiree!