Malaysia Aiming for More Australian Tourists

Tourism Malaysia hopes to attract 660,000 Australian visitors to the country in 2011, an increase of 80,000 on last year.

Speaking at a reception for guests of the Malaysian Homestay Programme famil, as well as to industry representatives, Tourism Malaysia Marketing Deputy Director Dato’ A. Amirrudin said that Australia had long been one of the “top ten” sources of visitors to the country.

“More than 580,000 Australians visited Malaysia last year, an increase of over 9 per cent on the year before … and with the favourable Australian dollar, we look forward to welcoming more Australians to our shores this year,” Mr Amirrudin said.

The lunch, held at Kuala Lumpur’s Seri Pacific Hotel, gave Mr Amirrudin the opportunity to speak candidly on behalf of Malaysia’s Homestay Programme.

“You have to experience the Homestay Programme to appreciate it,” Mr Amirrudin said, adding that everyone involved in its organisation was “passionate” about the programme.

“The success of the Homestay Programme depends on the entire community: the farmers, the police, the manufacturers of traditional crafts.”

According to Mr Amirrudin, the programme welcomed 50,000 participants in 2010, 2003 of which were Australians.

“The Homestay Programme is basically like a farmstay in Australia, but you stay in a village situation,” Mr Amirrudin said.

With a location halfway between Europe and Australia, Mr Amirrudin also emphasised the importance of short-term visitors to Malaysia.

“Around 50 per cent of visitors to the country are from stopovers,” Mr Amirrudin told e-Travel Blackboard.

Following the lunch, the Homestay Programme famil winners were officially presented with their prizes.

Are you an Aussie and looking for a great holiday experience? Even if you are not an Aussie why not check out Malaysia.

(Source: eTravelBlackboard 4^th March 2011)

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