Allotments increased as Malaysia readies for European traffic diverted from Thailand

European specialists in Malaysia are scrambling for rooms as they prepare for an influx of diverted traffic from Thailand.  In the last week of April, several operators were told by their European partners to ready themselves for additional groups this summer season.

Diethelm Travel managing director Manfred Kurz said the company had been asked by Meier?s Weltreisen to ?get as many rooms as possible?. Kurz was contacted by operators from Germany, Switzerland and Austria on April 29 and 30 for additional room allotments in Kuala Lumpur, Sabah, Penang and Langkawi. He said he had already secured a 30 per cent increase in room allotments at hotels in these destinations.

Mayflower Acme Tours director/general manager Chin Ten Hoy was also requested by his partners in Spain and Portugal on April 28 to ?be prepared? for additional arrivals in Langkawi, Penang and Sabah. While it was too early to gauge the potential increase in arrivals, Chin was ready to mobilise staff from other markets if need be.

Both Diethelm Travel and Mayflower Acme Tours expect the European overflow to materialise from mid-May onwards. Ping Anchorage, for its part, has created special tactical packages for the European market at 20 per cent off normal rates for the May-August summer season.

The tactical, offering seven- to 21-day half- and full-board packages, is only available on the company?s website and nearly match Thailand?s rates.  Lee said: ?We want to make Malaysia attractive to Europeans who had already applied for leave and booked Thailand but are now looking for alternative destinations in South-east Asia.?

On the other hand, agents selling Malaysia-Thailand-Singapore programmes to the Chinese market have been seeing cancellations pour in since April 13.

Tai Kar Holiday?s revenue for April dropped 90 per cent, said general manager Amanda Lai. The company has been trying to promote Malaysia as a mono-destination but Lai said there had been no takers as the package price was nearly double that of the three-country programme.