Malaysia gains 9.4-B US dollars from ASEAN tourists
July 28, 2009 9:25 am
KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — Malaysia gained 32.9 billion ringgit (9.4 billion US dollars) from tourists from ASEAN last year, an increase of 10 percent compared with 2007.
The Malaysian Tourism Ministry's Secretary General Ong Hong Peng said on behalf of Malaysian Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen on Tuesday that the gain was contributed by 16.6 million tourist arrivals from the other countries of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The number tourist arrivals in Malaysia from ASEAN countries increased 6.5 percent in 2008, compared with 2007, said Ong during the launching ceremony of the Malaysia Airlines' ASEAN Pass in Kelana Jaya near here.
Ong added that tourist arrivals to the country from other ASEAN countries constituted 75.4 percent of the total 22.05 million tourist arrivals for the year 2008.
In 2008, Ong said that Malaysia received most ASEAN tourists from Singapore (11.0 million), followed by Indonesia (2.43 million), Thailand (1.49 million) and Brunei (1.09 million).
"For the first half of this year, Malaysia continued to register an influx of over one million tourist arrivals per month from the ASEAN market," he said.
ASEAN comprises 10 member-countries — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Ong said that ASEAN has 570 million population that formed a large base for intra-ASEAN traveling.
Ong added that due to the current economic slowdown and A(H1N1) flu epidemic, the ASEAN travel market has become even more important because tourists preferred short haul traveling within the region.
Malaysia Airlines Chairman Munir Majid said that the Malaysia's national carrier offered promotion traveling package, ASEAN Pass based on the positive growth in the region.
Munir said that the package allowed a maximum of four flights within ASEAN countries via Kuala Lumpur International Airport for 229 US dollars on economy class and 799 US dollars on business class.
He said that ASEAN Pass has optional travel destinations in eight countries including Singapore; Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Medan. Surabaya and Bali in Indonesia; Siem Reap and Phnom Penh in Cambodia; Ho Chi Minh and Hanot in Vietnam; Manila in the Philippines; Phuket and Bangkok in Thailand; Yangon in Myanmar; and Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei.
He said that the validity period of ASEAN Pass was three months and the package was available through Malaysia Airlines' ticketing offices and appointed travel agents in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodian and Vietnam.
Malaysia Airlines Chief Executive Officer Idris Jala said that the company did not set any sale target for ASEAN Pass, however, the company recorded revenue of 1.2 million ringgit (342,857 US dollars) through 5,000 seats sold from the travel package since June this year. (PNA/Xinhua)
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