TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
In a special interview with TravTalk, Honourable Minister of Tourism Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Hajah Nancy Shukri shared about the tourism strategy for the next 10 years and the importance of the Middle East market. We have Muslim-friendly hotels with halal food in the country this is very fitting for the Middle Eastern clients.
Shehara Rizly
How important is the Middle Eastern market to Malaysia?
We see a lot of Middle Eastern tourists in Malaysia because we have many offerings; for example they can enjoy their own food in our country. I have noticed that some of them mainly come during their summer holidays and, something that attracts them to Malaysia is also our beaches and the shopping experiences. We are accommodating the ME tourists, especially because they enjoy in Bukit Bintang in Kuala Lumpur, popular with them, and some call this their special area. We have Muslim-friendly hotels with halal food in the country this is very fitting for the ME clients.
Do share about the opening of the travel bubble?
Before opening the travel bubble to Langkawi, we studied the alliance from the Middle East and we prepared Langkawi as the travel bubble as it is a destination with many offerings and safety with many befitting activities in Langkawi. This was an encouraging season for them and we will manage the SOPs. The Malaysian government launched its first International Travel Bubble by reopening Langkawi Island to fully-vaccinated international tourists beginning November 15, 2021 with no quarantine requirements. Also, Malaysia continued with reopening its land and air borders for Singapore citizens through a VTL arrangements starting November 29, 2021. As on December 28, 2021, 97.6 per cent of Malaysia’s adult population was fully inoculated, that comes to 78.4 per cent of its total population to have received complete vaccination.
Could you share how you build your relationship with the travel agents?
Malaysia is working with travel agents in Dubai and identified the many interesting areas for ME clients so the packages we have done to attract them. Our eco-tourism is something we need to share with everyone we are promoting it so that people will be able to pick and choose it is a good opportunity to promote sustainable tourism. Promoting Malaysia as the next Top of the Mind Ecotourism Destination in the World, the Ecotourism Week at the Malaysia Pavilion takes the call from Malaysia’s National Tourism Policy 2020-2030 which highlights the practice of responsible tourism. Malaysia is also joined by five state tourism boards, three associations, one hotel chain, one product owner, and six tour operators.
The Arab season was popular before COVID-19, are you working on getting it back on track?
Yes, the Arab season was popular and we witnessed many travellers from the Middle East season especially during summer. Hence, we are upgrading our hotels and infrastructure to welcome more Middle Eastern travellers to Malaysia.
Cat roundabouts and museum were a popular treat for GCC expats, will you be introducing anything new?
Cat parades were missing and we have been making improvements for the cat museum. From Sarawak, they want to include a big cage for cats — Kuching or cat city the parade invites a lot of tourists from Japan so we want more cat lovers to be there for the love of the animals.
Could you share about national tourism policy for the next 10 years?
We have National Tourism Policy 2020-2030 and we are trying to develop it to have more tourist-friendly facilities for different age groups. We will interact with various states and youngsters about what they require in terms of activities.
Share about the initiative to promote an underwater cultural city?
Malaysia as a diving city or underwater cultural city is to encourage people to dive and discover our art and culture. It is part of the ASEAN culture, take pictures and promote this new trend not just on land, but in the water as well.
