Malaysia Is Truly Asia
Product diversity is the calling card for many tourism destinations, but Malaysia brings its own spin to the formula. The long-deployed slogan “Malaysia, Truly Asia” confirms the crossroads image of the country, which celebrates a melting pot of Asian peoples.
Those multi-cultural impressions are mixed with images of Malaysia’s scenic treasures in a new tourism video, titled “Amazing Malaysia.”
It was actually prepared for the launch of the Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign, but was shelved until the pandemic ran its course. Now finally released, the video offers slices of Malaysia life in a lush montage of images. It has since garnered recognition with, for instance, the Special Award for Best Camerawork at the 21st WorldMediaFestivals, under the Tourism & Travel Media Awards category In Hamburg last year.
The new video is part of renewed efforts to win back some of the tourism lost to the pandemic. These efforts started in Nov. 15, 2021 with the allowance of the first leisure tourists, followed by further relaxing of restrictions at Malaysia’s borders, then a full opening on May 1 – for those with proven vaccination credentials. Unvaccinated arrivals are still obligated to get a swab test and will be quarantined if they test positive.
Malaysia is targeting international arrivals of 2 million for 2022 – well off the high of 26 million visitors in 2019. The goal is to return to 2019 numbers by ’24 or early ’25 said Mohd Akbal Setia, VP of Tourism Malaysia Americas, based in Los Angeles. This year marks Tourism Malaysia’s 50th Anniversary (1972-2022).
The top outbound markets to Malaysia are currently Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia, but key source markets are also India and nations in the Middle East.
In Canada, Tourism Malaysia is planning to participate in the Salon International Travel Expo in Montreal in October this year amongst its promotional activities. The tourism agency can also schedule webinars for tour operators and agents on request.
Market opportunities in the aftermath of the pandemic have rendered some welcome, once-absent air routes, including flights from Vancouver to Singapore three times per week on Singapore Airlines. Malaysia is immediately to the north of Singapore, accessible by highway or short flight to the capital.
There is no service by Malaysia Airlines from Canada, but other ways there include Japan Airlines or ANA to Tokyo then Malaysia; Korean Air to Seoul then Malaysia, EVA or China Airlines to Taipei then Malaysia, and Philippine Airlines to Manila then Malaysia, to name some.
Hotel brands took advantage of the pandemic pause to build some new properties in Malaysia. These include the ParkRoyal Collection in Kuala Lumpur, the Pan Pacific Serviced Suites in KL, the Kempinski Hotel KL and the Conrad KL. Outside the capital city is the Amari SPICE in Penang, and the Sunway Resort and Dash Hotel in Langkawi.
And finally, there is a new ferry route from Singapore to the Desaru Coast in Johor, Malaysia. The whole journey takes about 90 minutes.
For more, go to www.tourism.gov.my or check out www.malaysia.travel
Photo
The Batu Caves in Malaysia
