Sports tourism on fast track

Golf is a key sport as Malaysia taps the sports tourism market, which is set to become one of the fastest growing segments of the mega-billion ringgit industry, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

Sports tourism accounts for RM5bil per year. The tourism revenue last year was RM56.6bil.

“Malaysia aims to become a major sports tourism destination in the Asia-Pacific region.

“We have more than 200 golf courses throughout the country.

“We have them by the seaside, in the jungle and in the city and they provide different experiences to golfers from all over the world,” Dr Ng said after attending the CIMB Asia-Pacific Classic Malaysia press conference here yesterday.

She said Malaysia had recently won World Travel Awards for Asia’s Leading Sports Tourism Destination.

It was a significant achievement for the country as the award was heralded as the “travel industry’s equivalent of the Oscars” by the Wall Street Journal.

As for the CIMB Asia Pacific-Classic Malaysia, it is the second year that Tourism Malaysia is supporting and promoting it as a key event in the tourism calendar.

The tournament will be from Oct 27 to Oct 30 at The Mines Resort & Golf Club.

Dr Ng said to date, 365 tour packages for the tournament worth RM1.2mil had been sold and more revenue would be generated from independent travellers who would be attending the event.

The event is expected to attract 30,000 spectators.

Last year, the tournament drew over 20,000 spectators.

She later attended the global launch of Ducati’s new Monster 795 motorcycle hosted by Naza Group at Rootz Club here.

Naza joint group executive chairman Datuk Wira SM Faisal SM Nasimuddin said there were currently 1,400 Ducati motorcyle owners in the country, adding that he expected the sales of Monster 795 to add to that number significantly.

Source - thestar.com.my