Malaysia top pick holiday spot for S'poreans

He said strong relations between the neighbours, lifestyle similarities, appetising food, favourable exchange rate, shopping, increasing air travel affordability, especially through low-cost carriers, have made them to visit Malaysia more frequently.

"Malaysia's tourism industry has become the second largest contributor to the country's economy in terms of foreign exchange, thereby making Malaysia a premier destination, especially for holidays and travel incentives.

"In 2010, Malaysia received 24.6 million tourists, who spent RM56.5 billion. Of the total, Singaporeans accounted for RM28.4 billion, with 13 million arrivals," he said.

Zalizam said Malaysia offered a variety of interesting tourism products throughout the year for visitors' enjoyment including new attractions.

He said the Johor Premium Outlet, the first Premium Outlet Centre in South East Asia in Kulaijaya, near Johor Baharu City, opened on Dec 11 last year by  Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak offers branded names like Armani, Burberry, Coach, Gap and Nike.

The products are sold at 25 per cent to 65 per cent discounts. Furthermore, it takes only less than 30 minutes from the Second Link to reach the outlet, which has 2,600 parking bays.

Zalizam said another new attraction expected to boost Singaporean tourists  to Malaysia will be the Legoland Malaysia, part of the Iskandar Malaysia economic corridor.Expected to open by end-2012, the 30.4ha project will be full of adventures and family fun.

Source - bernama