The news on The Star featured Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak setting a target of 20.1 million tourist arrivals and revenue of RM 40.5 billion in 2007.
According to Razak, the tourism sector held on to its position as the second largest foreign exchange earner since 2000. International arrivals were 10.2 million and tourism receipts RM 17.3 billion, which rose to 17.55 million international tourists and receipts amounting to RM 36.27 billion in 2006. He revealed last year's growth rate was 6.8% in tourist arrivals and 13.5% in receipts.
On Monday, June 4, 2007, during the opening ceremony of the World Tourism Conference he stated, "This year, being 'Visit Malaysia Year' and the 50th Anniversary of our nationhood, we hope to do even better. It is indeed quite a challenge but I believe that it is a target we will be able to achieve."
Tourism is second only to manufacturing among Malaysia's top foreign exchange sectors with the nation ranking behind Britain and Canada at number three in tourist arrivals among the 53 Commonwealth countries. Malaysia portrays itself as clean and value for money, offering diverse lifestyles, ethnic groups and religions living together in harmony. Tourism Malaysia's ongoing Malaysia Truly Asia campaign showcases its vibrant Asian communities, however tourism is a recent Malaysian focus.
In developing tourism, Malaysian promotion centers on its diverse cultural environment with a variety of cultural festivals and performances. Among other activities are information exchange on tourism market, market research experience and co-organization of opportunities for foreign agencies and mass media representatives to highlight Malaysia's tourism potential.
Efforts are being made by the Malaysian government to halt inappropriate practices in the tourism sector, better infrastructure construction and encourage citizens in offering friendlier and standard services. With rapidly increasing tourist arrivals from China to Malaysia in recent years, Air Asia's initiation of direct flights linking Kuala Lumpur and Macau is set to draw more visitors from Macau and neighboring areas to Malaysia.
A RNCOS research analyst notes that most of the foreign visitors came from surrounding Asian and Pacific countries including Singapore, Japan and China. Malaysia's tourism industry is fairly new with huge potential for development. The country is therefore making a conscious effort to develop the whole industry including eco-tourism even further.
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Opportunities in Malaysian Tourism Industry (2007-2009)
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