Tourism Malaysia Woos South Americans

A recent article highlighted Tourism Malaysia’s efforts to woo more tourists to visit Malaysia, this time targeting South Americans. Traditionally South Americans are more keen to visit North America and Europe, not only because of historic and cultural ties, but also because of the closer proximity.

Tourism Malaysia’s efforts are commendable as South America can be considered a new market for Malaysian tourism. The efforts focus on a growing need for exotic destinations for those who have become jaded with traditional destinations in North America and Europe. And while most Asians view South America as an exotic location filled with a myriad of wonders, the same can be said of the average South American’s view of Asia.

Read the full article below:
Cash-flushed South Americans, with their newly-acquired prosperity, tend to visit North America and Europe because of historic and cultural ties and, in recent years, also because of growing commercial interests.

Tourism Malaysia discerns in the largely untapped South American markets good business potential, especially now as tourists from that region venture out to vacations in “exotic” destinations after a certain exhaustion among South Americans with the traditional destinations of North America and Europe.

Tourism Malaysia’s New York office, which also serves the geographic regions of the Caribbean and South America (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay), recently organised a roadshow in the South American region.

A Tourism Malaysia delegation, comprising the vice president/director Salahuddin Mohd Ariffin and deputy director Salinda Sany, both attached to the Tourism Malaysia New York office, visited the Argentinian capital Buenos Aires accompanied by Mohd Rafizi Abd Razak, the international marketing officer from Tourism Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.

A Malaysian food and cultural festival was held at the Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel & Convention Centre in the Argentinian capital from Sept 12 to 17.

The six-day event was the result of a “joint cooperation” between the Embassy of Malaysia in Buenos Aires, Tourism Malaysia, Malaysia Airlines and Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel & Convention Centre, aimed at positioning Malaysia as a top-choice tourist destination.

“Besides serving exquisite Malaysian food prepared by Malaysian chefs especially flown in by Malaysia Airlines, visitors to the event also enjoyed the dance performances by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall cultural troupe,” Salahuddin said in an interview with Bernama in his New York office after he returned from Buenos Aires.

Salahuddin said Malaysia continued to see an increase in Argentinian tourist arrivals despite the global economic slowdown.

“Tourism Malaysia’s effective strategies resulted in more than 6,600 Argentinian arrivals in 2010, an increase of almost nine per cent compared to 2009. After Brazil, it is the second largest long-haul Latin American market for Malaysia,” he maintained.

Salahuddin also revealed that Inprotur, Argentina’s tourism board, held discussions with the Malaysian delegation.

“We agreed during the meeting that we will bring Argentinian tourists to Malaysia but also help Argentina get Malaysian tourists.

“Inprotur sees strong potential to attract tourists from a number of countries, including Malaysia, to Argentina,” he said and added that, Malaysians could visit Argentina as a tourist destination.

With a view to courting tourism traffic from a number of Southeast Asian countries, Inprotur will be participating at the ITB Asia in Singapore from Oct 19 to 21, whereby Malaysia is also participating in this trade fair, he said.

“South American tourists are looking for exotic destinations,” he said and added that Tourism Malaysia will be bringing some 30 Argentinian, Brazilian, Paraguayan and Uruguayan travel agents and media to Malaysia in November to coincide with the International Aborigine Fest in Kuala Lumpur.

Asked if there was adequate air connectivity available between Malaysia and Argentina, Salahuddin replied that connectivity already existed with Argentina.

Malaysia Airlines operates two flights a week on what is called the “deep south” route, flying from Kuala Lumpur to Cape Town in South Africa and thence to Buenos Aires in Argentina.

The Malaysian ambassador in Buenos Aires, Datuk Zulkifli Yaacob, had helped the Tourism Malaysia delegation by establishing contacts with local businesses and media.

Zulkifli, who organised the Malaysia National Day celebrations and the official launching of the festival in Buenos Aires, highlighted the fact during the inauguration that this year marked the 44th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Argentina.

He said two-way trade between Malaysia and Argentina surged to US billion (about RM3.2 billion) in 2010; indeed, Malaysia has become Argentina’s biggest trading partner in the Asean group.

Urging Argentinians to visit Malaysia, Zulkifli said Malaysia was blessed with “enthralling natural beauty” along with all the innumerable tourist attractions.

“It is home to a myriad of cultures and religions, vast cities and rich jungles, beautiful beaches and luxurious resorts. Malaysia was ranked ninth in 2010 and 2001 as the most-visited tourism destination in the world by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, and second in the Asia-Pacific region,” the ambassador said.

Source - malaysia