Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Encouraging tourists to Spend More in Malaysia

SEPANG: Tourists will be encouraged to extend their stay in Malaysia and spend more after total receipts from last year’s arrivals fell below expectations.

Tourists will soon be given free carton boxes for any “excess baggage” as a result of their shopping in the upcoming Malaysia GP Sale starting March 24.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the boxes – which would be emblazoned with the Visit Malaysia 2007 logo – would be distributed to hotel guests.

“We feel that it may be troublesome for the guests to buy an extra bag just to fill their extra goods and purchases. So we are providing these carton boxes as one way of getting them to spend more.

“These boxes will also act as a marketing tool for us,” he said.

Tengku Adnan said that the Government would focus its promotion efforts on visitors from the Middle East, India and China.

“Tourists from there are big spenders and do a lot of shopping while on holiday. We can attract droves of tourists but we must also get them to spend in Malaysia,” he told reporters after welcoming AirAsia’s VMY plane at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal here yesterday.

The Government initiative

stems from total receipts for last year falling RM1.4bil short of its target.

Last year’s tourist arrivals grew by 6.8%, exceeding the target of 17.54mil but total receipts only came to RM36.2bil.

The Government has set a target of RM44.5bil in tourist spending for this year.



Source : STAR
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