Malaysia taps tourism potential in India

 Tourism Mala­y­sia, the Malaysia Tourism Pro­­motion Board, has embarked on a sales mission to India from March 12 to 20, to create awareness about the South Eastern nation and increase its tourism possibilities.

The primary objective of the mission is to strengthen Malaysia as a tourist destination, while increasing arrivals from India.

Addressing a press meet here on Friday, Tourism Malaysia’s Deputy Director General Dato Azizan Noordin said, “India has always been an important market for us. We have had an increased tourist arrival every year to our country, from India.”

In 2013, a total of 6,50,989 travellers visited Malaysia, thereby maintaining its position as the “sixth top tourist generating market to the country.” In the current year, close to eight lakh tourists are expected to arrive in Malaysia from India. There are three Tourism Malaysia Centres in India, in New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai.
“Being the country’s IT capital, Bangalore generates the highest number of tourists. Malaysia is counted as a popular weekend getaway for several IT professionals,” said Noordin.

A variety of tourism realms like education, ecology, wellness and the like, are the main attractions. This apart, 16 flights per week are on schedule boosting the industry with a relatively good market.

However, visa fares to Malaysia have increased from December 2013. “The processing fee has gone up from Rs 1,000 to 3,000 due to the new system of functioning. We are trying to discuss the same with the authorities and the government soon and hope to bring this down to a feasible amount,” said Manoharan, Director, Tourism Malaysia.

According to the officials, one might have to shell out anywhere between Rs 500 and 1,000 to the visa agent, apart from the processing fee.