Malaysia voted the World Best Tourist Destination

MALAYSIA was recently voted the World's Best Tourist Destination in a global travel magazine based in the United States.

*Updated: Poll done at Global Traveler Magazine*

According to Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim, 14,000 readers participated in a poll conducted by the magazine and Malaysia came out tops when the results were announced a fortnight ago.

Lim said this while delivering his speech at the launch of the “Shop, Fly and Win'' campaign at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang recently.

Bigger target: Lim launching the campaign.

He also spoke on Visit Malaysia Year and revealed that the Tourism Ministry had set a target of boosting foreign tourist arrivals to the country to 20 million, a jump from last year. An estimated income of RM44.5bil can be derived from tourist arrivals.

“This year the Tourism Ministry has planned 50 major events throughout the country, covering cultural, sports as well as fashion to enable visitors to witness the colours of Malaysia.”

Malaysia Airports Berhad chairman Tan Sri Aris Othman said this was the fourth consecutive year for the “Shop, Fly and Win'' campaign. The shopping-related campaign involves all retail and F&B outlets at the KLIA and Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT-KLIA).

During his speech, Aris revealed that the airport had earned itself another award, the Most Outstanding Establishment in the Tourist, Hotel, Restaurant and Catering Field for 2007 from the Trade Leaders Club, Madrid.

“The 'Shop, Fly and Win' campaign aims to encourage and reward our customers to come and experience shopping at KLIA. Our Low Price guarantee programme ensures that prices of goods are comparable, if not lower, than those set by retail counterparts elsewhere,” he stressed.

The six-month campaign ending in August offers a total of 91,000 prizes including the grand prize of a luxury car, Brabus K4. Residents and non-residents can participate, provided they spend a minimum of RM250 in a single receipt or accumulated receipts.

Those who spend RM250 will qualify for tier 1 with the chance to participate in a sure-to-win computer generated game while those who spend RM500 will be automatically eligible for the on-the-spot prize.

In conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year, KLIA will also showcase festivals like Chinese New Year, international sporting events like the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix, local cultural performances like “wayang kulit'', Chinese opera, henna painting, Kadazan tribal dances and interactive activities like beauty makeovers and stage trivia.

Global Traveler Magazine Website - http://www.globaltravelerusa.com/

Source : STAR Daily Express Seoul Times
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]