Tourism Malaysia’s Visit Malaysia Year 2007 helped boost tourist arrivals by 24% to 11.4 million in the first seven months of this year.
Of the total, UK visitors numbered 158,801, almost 8% up on the same period in 2006. The campaign marked 50 years of independence from Britain.
At WTM the focus will be on hotels and air services to Malaysia, as well as sporting events. YTL Resorts, owner of the Pangkor Laut, is opening a five-star property on the Straits of Malacca in January, Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort in Kota Kinabalu opens a Chi Spa this month, while Pangkor Laut Resort is expanding its dining options.
Tourism Malaysia also wants to raise awareness of alternative flight options for Britons who don’t have easy access to Malaysia Airlines services from Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur.
Tourism Malaysia: stand AS6400