Tourism Malaysia is expecting to see visitor numbers from the UK grow next year as British Airways relaunches a daily service to Kuala Lumpur.
Dr Ong Hong Peng, deputy director general for Malaysia, said despite a “difficult” time, tourism from the UK had grown 10% over the past year and visitors from Europe had grown by 15% year on year.
He said he was hoping to achieve further growth off the back of British Airways new daily service which will begin on May 21 next year.
The service will see 6,000 passengers travel from Heathrow’s Terminal 5 to Kuala Lumpur each month.
The deputy director general told media gathered at a conference at World Travel Market that he was excited for what the future would hold, particularly in 2015 when the country hosts its Year of Festivals celebrations.
Next year an additional capacity of 6,000 four and five star hotel rooms will be created, with several new resorts opening their doors.
He added: “We welcome the return of British Airways. We see enough potential growth in the tourism market in Malaysia to be confident and optimistic about the flight with British Airways to KL.”
Chris Rankin, head of consumer sale UK&I at British Airways, explained the airline had wanted to return to Malaysia for some time and the revived route had been in the pipeline for the last three years.
He said BA’s £5 billion investment plans in its infrastructure had allowed the route to be reinstated, with new aircraft among the investment.
“Our plans will help boost tourism which accounts for one sixth of the country’s national income,” he said. “We hope to drive further growth.”