British tourist spending rises

British tourist spending rises

LONDON: More British tourists are coming to Malaysia and they are spending more.
They spent RM914.6mil in Malaysia last year, an increase of 47.8% over the previous year, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

He said tourist arrivals from Britain rose by 17.4%, from about 204,000 in 2004 to 240,000 last year.

Till July this year, about 147,000 Britons have visited Malaysia, an increase of 7.4% compared with the corresponding period last year.

Malaysia had a high regard for Britain as a major tourist generating market and also as an
important industrial and trading partner, he said when launching the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 campaign at Waldorf Hilton here on Monday.

The Visit Malaysia Year sales mission has so far covered Dublin (from Nov 1 to 3) and will next visit Glasgow (Nov 9 and 10) and Amsterdam (Nov 10 and 11).

The Malaysian delegation also took part in the four-day World Travel Market at the ExCel Exhibition Centre in Docklands, which started on Monday.

Fifty major events have been scheduled for the year-long celebrations.

Tengku Adnan said British visitors found Malaysia appealing for many reasons. The major factor is that it is a value-for-money destination.

“Where else can you stay at a five-star hotel for only £54 (RM356)?” he asked.

He said Malaysia’s diverse attractions – ranging from its million-year-old rainforests, national parks and pristine beaches to idyllic tropical islands and renowned dive sites – were perfect for those who loved the sun, sea and marine life.

Tengku Adnan said Britons could also take part in the Malaysia My Second Home programme, which offered a social visit pass with multiple entries to Malaysia for up to 10 years.

Under the programme, they can buy two houses in Malaysia and visit the country any time.

News Source : STAR

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