KL aims for 100000 tourists from UAE and Iran

ATM the largest trade and consumer travel show in the region, being held from May 6-9, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, meanwhile he launched first comprehensive Arabic website 'Ahllanmalaysia.com'.

Dato' Mirza Mohammad Taiyab is in Dubai with a 135 strong high-profile delegation from Malaysia that includes representatives from 54 hotels, 24 travel & tour operators, and 4 state governments, Malaysia Airlines, Malaysia Airport Berhad, Malaysia Travel Bureau Sdn Bhd and Menara KL (KL Tower).

Part of the delegation will embark on a post ATM road show to other countries in the Gulf, namely to Oman and Kuwait from 10th to 13th May 2008 to promote Malaysia. During the mission, the delegation will hold meetings with the local travel trade players in the respective cities.

Dato' Mirza said:' We have participated in ATM since a long time ago and as a result, we have witnessed huge growth of Gulf tourists to Malaysia. In ATM 2008, our delegation is comprised of approximately 85 companies (both private and Government sectors), and we are looking forward to leveraging the prestige of the exhibition to showcase our attractions and to strengthen relations with GCC travel players. With our strategic efforts to make Malaysia a preferred destination, we anticipate an increased number of tourists from GCC this year particularly during summer.'

'We are working very hard to meet all Middle East tourists' requirements. This is the reason Malaysia is able to position itself as one of the Middle East travellers' preferred holiday destinations,' Mirza added.

'In 2008, we have made various arrangements to attract tourists from the Middle East region. For example, we have been working closely with travel and tour operators in GCC countries as well as different airlines in order to offer more facilities to the tourists from these areas'. he added.

'Arab tourists will be provided with promotional booklets, maps and all the necessary tools that will help them during their holiday in Malaysia. For example, there will be signage and Arabic-speaking staff at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to guide them,' Director General of Tourism Malaysia added.

At the same time the Malaysian tourism official reviews the most important achievements of the Malaysian tourism last year and the great facilities offered by the Malaysian tourism for visitors from the Middle East region as well as future plans for the development of the Malaysian tourism and attracting more Arab tourists, and will also answer questions and queries from journalists of all newspapers and magazines, local, Arab And international ones.

For his part, Malaysia Tourism Director General expressed his optimism about the results of (ATM) 2008 in Dubai, and said: ' We are more confident in this forum to achieve our ambitions of the previous forums, 'noting that the number of incoming tourists from the Middle East to Malaysia is on the rise thanks to a continuous policy adopted by our Government to provide the best services for Arab tourists.'

Mr. Azizan Noordin, Director of International Promotion Division, Tourism Malaysia said 'Malaysia as a tourist destination has gained the world's attention with a recent survey by Global Traveller, a US-based magazine, which voted it as the world's best destination, and we are exceedingly pleased by three prestigious awards from the Incentive Travel and Conventions Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) show and 17th Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) Annual Travel Awards in October 2006'.

'Malaysia is home to various cultures and religions co-existing harmoniously, offering a remarkable cultural experience for visitors. Malaysians are known to be proud of their country, and the government has engaged the people and the private sector such as airlines and hotels in a concerted effort to make Malaysia a prime tourist destination,' Mr. Azizan added.

Director of International Promotion Division said 'Malaysian tourism initiatives in the region is carried out by Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board offices in Dubai for the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Iran markets and in Jeddah for Saudi Arabia, Levant and North Africa. The tourism body works with consumer and trade stakeholders to forward its goals through various promotional and marketing initiatives'.

Mr. Tuan Razali Tuan Omar, Tourism Malaysia Director in Dubai said 'Malaysia received 20,972,822 arrivals (up by 19.5%) West Asia (245,302 - up by 31.3%) and it has been ranked as the number one destination for Middle East tourists.

'For more Arab visitor this season, we just start our advertising campaign in Gulf area which will be until August in all Arabic and English publication in the region as well as the huge airlines seats to Malaysia during summer season'.

Razali said:'our target 400 thousand Arab tourists from Middle East especially the GCC countries, that why we are participation in all exhibitions, road show, conference and nowadays ATM in Dubai, so we will launch a special event for the Arab tourists starting in next July until August consist of fun, entertainments for all family members, by special Arab bands, and that on order to maintain them as their home land atmosphere'.