TOURISM : TOURISM MALAYSIA AIMS TO EXPAND AIR CONNECTIVITY TO MALAYSIA THROUGH ROUTES ASIA 2024

TTT NEWS NETWORK

KOLKATA, 4 MARCH 2024:

Tourism Malaysia plays host to Routes Asia 2024’s Networking Evening held today at Resorts World Langkawi, unveiling the best of Malaysian gastronomy and culture to international delegates from over 60 countries.

As the host country for the 20^th edition of Routes Asia, the mythical paradise of Langkawi becomes the home of over 800 delegates for three days, from 27^th to 29^th February 2024. In collaboration with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), Tourism Malaysia is the co-host of the three-day event, bringing together Asia Pacific’s leading airlines, airports, and industry players.

Serving as another milestone for the MICE segment, Routes Asia 2024 also sets a precedent as Malaysia prepares to host next year’s ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2025, followed by Visit Malaysia Year in 2026 – ultimately anticipating a surge in tourist arrivals for the coming years. To reach this goal, Tourism Malaysia has introduced a matching grant initiative aimed to stimulate the expansion of new direct and charter routes to Malaysia.

“Tourism Malaysia is eager to collaborate with international airlines and tourism agencies to enhance air accessibility, frequency, and seat capacity to Malaysia via the International and Charter Flight Matching Grant (GSPC). We truly look forward to having more carriers designate Malaysia as their preferred destination,” said Mr Manoharan Periasamy, the Director General of Tourism Malaysia.

Malaysia recorded a total of 20.1 million international tourist arrivals and RM71.3 billion in tourist receipts in 2023. This year, Malaysia aims to woo 27.3 million arrivals with RM102.7 billion in tourism revenue.

About Tourism Malaysia:

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as Tourism Malaysia, is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene.

The next Visit Malaysia Year, set to take place in 2026, will commemorate the sustainability of the nation’s tourism industry, which is also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).

Furthermore, Tourism Malaysia actively endorses the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), working towards the realisation of the IMT-GT Visiting Year 2023-2025, with the shared aim of promoting the region as a unified tourism destination.