NEW YORK, March 2Malaysia is making a strong pitch at the three-day New York Times Travel Show which opened Saturday and is considered to be the United States’ east coast’s most important event for the travel and tourism trade.
“The New York Times Travel Show is the leading travel show on the east coast … that’s why we are participating in this show. You see many Asian countries here, including from the Asean group,” explained Johanif Ali, the vice-president of Tourism Malaysia’s New York office, at the show.
Johanif, who also gave a presentation on Friday on Malaysia during a “Focus on Asia” seminar, highlighted some of the attractive attributes of Malaysia as a destination such as nature, culture, relaxation and cuisine.
He also presented some unique travel options and trends available to those travelling to Asia this year.
“I highlighted the options available to travellers to Southeast Asia that they could have a package of dual or triple destinations which would have greater appeal than a solo destination.
“The seminar, which was organised by the Pacific Asia Travel Association, was attended by tour operators, travel agents, media, hoteliers and others connected with the industry,” Johanif said.
According to Tourism Malaysia’s New York office, some 246,000 arrivals from the entire US were recorded in Malaysia in 2013, posting a 2.8% increase over the previous year.
Asked about the trends he discerned for the current year, Johanif said that based on feedback he had received from both Malaysian and American sources, Americans were increasingly finding Malaysia an interesting destination.
“I have been told by Malaysian friends, including tourist guides, that they are having more and more American tourists who take cruise ships to Singapore and then come for a day to Malaysia.
“My contacts tell us that they are completely booked because of the American arrivals,” Johanif said, adding that he sees a “substantial rise in this trend”.
Tourism Malaysia’s New York office has, meanwhile, lined up a number of programmes to bolster its promotional activities in the United States.
For 2014, for example, it will continue with its digital bill board ad at New York’s Times Square, which has its annual “ball drop” – the countdown to the ending of the year and the ushering in of the new year – and which is a busy and popular tourist attraction not only for Americans but also foreign tourists.
Another project that Johanif is overseeing from New York is a six-night visit by the advisory board of Travel & Leisure, a leading travel/tourism magazine, to Malaysia; the visitors will discuss with Malaysian operators a wide range of travel and tourism issues.
“We are going to continue with our tactical campaigning. Our stand this year at the New York Times Travel Show is bigger to accommodate the growing number of visitors to our stand.
“We will hold eight seminars this year instead of four in the past to intensify our exchanges with tour operators, travel agents.
“Another promotional project I have in mind is a bus or a large van that will have large bill boards about Malaysia’s tourism attractions and will ply not just in New York but on the entire east coast.
“The vehicle will also be accompanied by a cultural troupe attired in colourful Malaysian costumes, handing out brochures and having fun games to engage the public.”
