Attract more tourists from Indochina

Johor to double up efforts to attract more tourists from Indochina

The Johor tourism department has doubled up its effort to attract more tourists from Indochina as some 280,000 tourists who came to Malaysia last year bypassed Johor during their visits.

State Tourism Committee chairman Hoo Seong Chang said the number of foreign tourist to Malaysia from the region had increased by 27 percent last year compared to 2008.

“Most of the tourists from countries like Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia usually go for packages such as two nights stay in Kuala Lumpur and two nights in Singapore.

“A lot of them have heard of places like Desaru and Tanjung Piai but have never visited as they usually bypass the state to go to Singapore,” he said after launching the 12th Matta Travel Fair at Danga City Mall recently.

Hoo added that 60 percent of the total visitors from Indochina last year were from Vietnam.

“Out of the 15.5mil visitors who visited the state last year, only 1.6mil stayed overnight and the remaining were day-trippers.

“We are looking into upgrading our services and facilities so the visitors will stay at least one night in the state,” he said, adding that the travel fair was a good channel to provide more packages to foreigners.

Hoo said other than promoting the state in the Indochina region, the department was also looking at Japan and India.

“We are planning to invite journalists from Japan and India to visit and write about Johor’s attractions so people in these countries will be more aware of our tourism products.

“The department will be making frequent trips to these countries in a bid to encourage better international coverage for Johor,” he said.

Matta National president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun said the travel fair not only promoted tourism, it also generated economic activities in the state.

“I believe the three-day fair plays a critical role in helping the government in creating job opportunities, promoting tourism as well as economic growth.

“I urge the exhibitors to treat the customers with courtesy and practice good business ethics so more people purchase their travel products,” he said.

The three-day fair has a total of 46 exhibitors displaying 155 booths offering affordable and attractive travel packages to both international and domestic destinations.

-News courtesy of The Star-