Iran grows for Malaysia but challenges abound

IRAN registered the highest growth for Malaysia last year, increasing by 60.9 per cent to reach 101,664 visitors.




Agents specialising in this market, however, said Malaysia was in danger of losing its lustre due to unhealthy practices such as rate-dumping to grab market share and Singapore's growing appeal through aggressive promotional efforts.



Grace Holidays general manager Godwin Miranda said: "A standard package of seven nights in Malaysia is sold US$15 or more below cost. Agents make up the difference by pushing optionals and shopping tours. Services are compromised by skimping on trained tour guides, interpreters and hotel facilities."



Mohammad Kiani, general manager of Sewac Travel & Tours, added that the number of Iranians going on Kuala Lumpur-Penang packages had dropped by at least 80 per cent since 2007 and the market was now opting for Kuala Lumpur-Singapore packages instead.



Iran overtook the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last year to become Malaysia's second largest Middle East market, after Saudi Arabia. UAE arrivals fell by 36.8 per cent in 2009 to a little over 22,000, compared to 34,994 in 2008.



Source : TTG
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An Iranian twin for Langkawi

THE Kedah Government will be working with the Iranian Government to conduct a twinning island promotion between Langkawi and Kish Island in Iran.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak said the idea was discussed with Iranian ambassador to Malaysia Mahdi Khandaghabadi during a luncheon at Wisma Darulaman here yesterday.

He said it would involve promoting both islands in tou-rism packages and also direct flights between Langkawi and Kish.

“Our tourism officers will discuss the idea with their Iranian counterparts.

“I was told by the ambassador that tourism players in Iran are interested in promoting Langkawi and Kish as twinning island,” he told newsmen when met after the luncheon here.

Kish Island is a free trade island located in the Persian Gulf. The island has an estimated population of 20,000 residents and about 5.5mil people visited the island annually.

Azizan said Langkawi had huge potential to be promoted to tourists from Iran because both places have similarity in religion and culture.

He said Iran was also inte-rested to send its students to study in Kedah and to share its expertise in agriculture with the state government.

Source : STAR
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