Boosting domestic tourism

Many Malaysians prefer to spend their holidays at local destinations. Local tourists made up over 60 per cent of hotel guests in 2006. It is believed that domestic holidays are more popular as they are cheaper than overseas travel.

At the launch of the Cuti-Cuti Malaysia Fair (CCMF) 2008 last Friday, Tourism Malaysia Domestic Promotion Division director Datuk Idros Mohd said it was the CCMF's aim to encourage domestic tourism as a key sector.

"There are a variety of tourism products which would meet every need of a domestic traveller," he said, adding that the CCMF was the first project planned by Tourism Malaysia this year.

Idros said domestic travel enhances national integration and promotes a better understanding of the various customs and traditions.
In his speech, he said local tourists accounted for 32 million hotel guests in 2006 as against 22 million foreign travellers in the same year.

Up to the third quarter of last year, the number of hotel guests had risen to about 28 million, an increase of 34 per cent. Tourism Malaysia had set its sights on achieving 38 million local tourists this year.

Idros was speaking to hoteliers, travel and tour operators, representatives of Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia, and tourists at the annual CCMF initiated nine years ago by Tourism Malaysia.

A total of 80 hotel and tour operators had set up stalls at the Sunway Pyramid shopping centre to offer bargains during the three-day event which ended yesterday.

Many fun-filled activities were held, such as traditional dances by cultural troupes from Kelantan and Terengganu and performances by local artistes like Amy Mastura and Ferhad.


Source : NST
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]