Tourism Growth in "Malaysia, Truly Asia"

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUALA LUMPUR 000526 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD EIND MY SUBJECT: Tourism Growth in "Malaysia, Truly Asia" Summary -------------- ¶1. Tourism is a growth industry in Malaysia. The government's "Visit Malaysia 2007" tourism campaign, with its ubiquitous "Malaysia, Truly Asia" theme song, enticed a record number of foreign tourists in 2007. Recent statistics portend continued strong growth in 2008. Tourists from Southeast Asia make up the bulk of arrivals, but the government is striving to attract more long haul travelers who will spend more while they're in Malaysia. The government is actively promoting eco tourism, as well as areas of Malaysia outside the typical tourist draws. Middle Eastern tourists are a small but influential group which Malaysia makes a strong effort to attract. End Summary. Tourism A Growing Industry in Malaysia -------------- ¶2. The tourism industry contributes substantially to Malaysia's national income and is a significant component in the growth of the country's services sector. Almost 21 million tourists visited Malaysia in 2007, contributing RM 46.1 billion (USD 14.7 billion) in revenue (equaling approximately 7% of GDP). This was substantially more than in 2006, when 17.5 million foreign arrivals spent about RM 36.2 billion. The government heavily promoted tourism in 2007, the 50th anniversary of Malaysian independence. The success of the "Visit Malaysia 2007" promotion caused the government to extend the campaign through August 2008. Tourism Malaysia now is forecasting 21.5 million tourisQin 2008 who are expected to spend about RM50 billion (USD 15 billion). The success of thQisit Malaysia 2007 campaign also has spurred Malaysian state governments to embark on similar campaigns this year, including the states of Qengganu, Kelantan and Kedah in eastern peninsular Malaysia. ¶3. Tourists from Malaysia's Southeast Asian neighbors make up the bulk of arrivals, with Singaporeans (many of whom come for day trips) accounting for one-half of all foreign arrivals in 2007, followed by Thais, Indonesians and Bruneians. The largest source of non-ASEAN tourists is China, followed by India, Japan, Australia and the United Kingdom. Malaysia recorded 204,844 tourist arrivals from the United States in 2007, a 17.5% percent increase from the year before, though U.S. visitors comprise less than one percent of all foreign arrivals. ¶4. According to Tourism Malaysia, the GOM has allocated some RM200 million (USD 63 million) for promotional activities to bring in targeted tourists. Working with other countries in the ASEAN region, Tourism Malaysia also has organized "one destination, two nations" packages that promote the tourist industries of both Malaysia and a neighboring country, with each country promoting their tourist products through their respective national carrier airlines and travel agents. Focus On Traditional Villages -------------- ¶5. A representative from a group of Malaysian hotel owners told Econ FSN that many attractive destinations in Malaysia have not successfully exploited their tourism potential. The bulk of tourists continue to concentrate in such areas as Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, Malacca, and Johor (which is adjacent to Singapore). The rep suggested that travel agencies should be encouraged to organize ground tours by bus or train, to include stops at traditional villages throughout Malaysia. Such tours could emphasize Malaysia's culture, including history sites, cultural heritage, traditional food as well as the creation of local handicrafts such as batik and songket (hand-woven cloth). Smaller towns would welcome the boost to their economies, and international tourists would welcome the opportunity to learn and see all these rather than looking at modern buildings, according to our contact. Minister of Tourism Azalina Othman has echoed similar views, saying Malaysia should "sell our uniqueness" instead of just trying to compete with neighbors Singapore and Thailand. ¶6. A Tourism Malaysia official told Econ FSN that he agreed with the hotel owners' rep that Malaysia should encourage tourists to spread out to other destinations. This was all the more necessary during peak periods when insufficient accommodation is available, primarily during the Middle Eastern tourist season in summer as well as during high profile events like the March Formula 1 race near Kuala Lumpur. New Approaches to Promoting Tourism -------------- ¶7. According to a Tourism Malaysia official, the government is interested in promoting higher end tourism to attract visitors who will stay longer in Malaysia and spend more money than short term visitors from neighboring countries. Among potential tourists targeted are South Koreans, ChinesQrom the eastern seaboard of mainland China, other East Asians, and Middle Easterners. TourQ KUALA LUMP 00000526 002 OF 002 Malaysia hopes that increasing numbers of visitors from these areas will raise Malaysia's image as a premier, quality and good-value destination. Statistics show that some 70 percent of tourists are from Southeast Asia, 15 percent from Asia, with only about 15 percent from other parts of the world. ¶8. Malaysia makes a special effort to attract tourists from the Middle East. Tourism Malaysia recently launched a promotion entitled "Feel At Home" to encourage visitors during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, typically a period when Muslims stay close to home. With Ramadan falling in the summer over the next few years, which is also the high tourist season in Malaysia for Middle Easterners seeking relief from the heat, Malaysia wants to ensure that it does not lose a particularly important source of deep-pocketed tourists. Malaysia plans to invite imams from Mecca to lead daily prayers for the benefit of Middle Eastern tourists, and will also expand and enhance the "Arab Street" section in the heart of Kuala Lumpur's tourist zone. Kuala Lumpur International Airport now makes announcements in Arabic, and immigration counters include designated lanes with Arabic-speaking inspectors. ¶9. Malaysia has many great eco tourism attractions, especially a large number of national parks containing relatively untouched nature, beautiful landscapes and rich flora and fauna. A Tourism Malaysia official said the government is committed to promoting eco tourism, which helps promote environmental preservation and wildlife conservation. The MTB official said Malaysia is particularly interested in such tourists since they are willing to pay a premium to visit ecotourism sites. ¶10. Ministry of Tourism officials have admitted that government agencies need to work more closely with the private sector to come up with more interesting and creative products to help make permanent Malaysia's recent gains in tourism. Tourism Malaysia is focused on raising service standards, such as providing better information counters in airports, shopping areas and hotels, including more directional signs in Mandarin, Arabic and Japanese. Malaysia is also pushing other programs to improve its reputation among potential foreign tourists. For example, Tourism Minister Azalina has proposed a training center to teach manners to taxi drivers and other tourism industry personnel. She has also pushed for eradication of unscrupulous taxi touts at Kuala Lumpur International Airport; KLIA has now moved the ticket counter for approved taxi service to the front of the arrival area so that tourists cannot miss it. Comment -------------- ¶11. Malaysia has attracted increasing numbers of tourists by leveraging well its numerous advantages. With reasonably priced lodging and food, well-developed infrastructure including modern airports and highways, and attractive air fares (Malaysia is home to the region's largest budget air carrier, Air Asia),Malaysia has been able to carve out a growing niche in the competitive Southeast Asia tourist market. It is a particularly attractive destination for Middle Easterners, who can enjoy a multicultural Southeast Asian experience in a well-developed country that caters to Muslim strictures. Malaysia will continue to face significant competition from its neighbors, but is well positioned to increase its share of the region's tourism market. Tourists from the United States will continue to be relatively uncommon, however, especially given the distance (no U.S. carriers serve Malaysia, and the most direct routing currently available exceeds 18 hours flight time). KEITH