High hopes in Malaysia
M
arvellous, multifaceted and thrillingly multicultural: Malaysia offers travellers an almost unbeatable range of experiences. Spread across Peninsular Malaysia, northern Borneo and scattered islands in between, the country encompasses rainforests, mountains, coral reefs and sandy beaches, along with varied cultures and incredible animal icons. From cosmopolitan Kuala Lumpur to fascinating longhouse villages via colonial influences, colourful festivals and uniquely Malaysian cuisine, this is one of south- east Asia’s most diverse destinations. Little wonder, then, that Malaysia
remains the region’s second most visited country after Thailand. Last year, Malaysia welcomed nearly 26 million international visitors for an average stay of 5.7 nights, generating over 82 billion ringgit (£15 billion) for the national coffers. Not surprisingly, other Asian countries constitute the lion’s share (92%), with Singapore, Indonesia, China, Thailand and Brunei the top source markets. India, South Korea, Japan and the Philippines also make the top 10, as does the UK (with more than 358,000 arrivals), making the UK the strongest long-haul market and the only non-Asian market in the top 10. With the exception of China (which
saw growth of nearly 8%), all other markets experienced a small decline in
Industry feedback “ 62 wtm insights autumn 2018
Ross Pakes, director of product, Abercrombie & Kent Malaysia is all about diversity. Our classic tailor-made Peninsular Malaysia tour (including
Singapore and Malacca) does very well. Clients experience the best of each region while staying in the finest hotels and resorts. We recommend classic Malaysian experiences such as the jungle wilderness of Taman Negara National Park and the waterfalls and tea plantations of the Cameron Highlands, alongside luxury Langkawi beach breaks – our top hotels here are the St Regis and Four Seasons. Along the way, clients can sample the famous Peranakan Nonya cuisine that blends influences from Malaysia’s varied ethnic groups into a spice explosion.
”
wtm.com
Panorama Langkawi, one of the world’s steepest cable car rides
Malaysia has big things planned for 2019, with theme parks, natural attractions and hotel developments making headlines, as James Litston finds out
2017, thought to be the result of reduced marketing budgets. Nevertheless, Tourism Malaysia remains optimistic. “Strong forward bookings and an increase in visa applications from China and India are positive indicators,” reveals Shahrir Ali, director, Tourism Malaysia UK and Ireland. “Improved visa facilities in China and India are also making it more convenient for travellers from these markets to visit Malaysia,” he says.
More flights
Better connectivity is also playing its part. Although Malaysia Airlines discontinued its routes to Dubai and Kuwait in 2016, Qatar Airways is
Traditional dancers
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