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ASIA
REGION
35
Truly
Asia!
Malaysia is on target to double visitors and triple
revenue by 2020
With the ASEAN Tourism Forum planned for Malaysia in 2014, many
eyes are turning to that country as an even more important key player
in the region. Hon. Dato’ Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen, the Malaysian Minister for
Tourism, tells ITB Berlin News that the country’s 2012 visitor numbers
are on target…
Hon. Dato’ Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen
Minister of Tourism, Malaysia
Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen is a Malaysian politician and the current Minister
of Tourism. She is also the current Vice-President of the Malaysian Chinese
Association (MCA). She was the chief of the Women’s wing of the Malaysian
Chinese Association until 2008. Her appointment as minister marked a
milestone as the first Malaysian Chinese woman to hold a cabinet position.
In 2009, she was appointed Minister of Tourism, and under her stewardship,
Malaysia has received and continues to reap accolades from the world over.
Our target for 2012 was
25 million visitors, and
the latest results indicate
we reached that. We are
already the second-largest
destination in Asia after
China, and 9th largest in
the world. By 2020 we aim
to double the visitors and
triple the revenue.
What changes are you
planning for this year?
This year, a new terminal is
due to open at Kuala Lumpur
airport, mainly for lowcost
carriers, and designed
to handle 30 million
passengers a year. There
are also developments
for airlines with a new
Malaysia/Indonesia low
fare airline, Malindo
Airlines, due to start flying
this year between the two
countries, and Air France
will start three weekly flights
from Paris to Kuala Lumpur
this April. And we are also
working on plans for 2014,
which we have designated
Visit Malaysia Year [VMY].
The theme will be ‘Malaysia
– Truly Asia’. Our goal is to
rally all the nation’s forces
behind VMY. The prime
minister himself exhorted
all Malaysians to stand
together and show their
best in terms of hospitality
and sense of welcome.
The prime minister
himself exhorted all
Malaysians to stand
together and show
their best in terms of
hospitality.
major international event
in 2014 that publicises
Malaysia worldwide for the
VMY. This is the first time
the ATF has been held on the
island of Borneo, so we are
exploring all the potential of
Borneo, particularly in terms
of leisure and adventure.
The other important change
is that we have just agreed
for Aseanta (Asean Tourism
Association) to run the
Travex trade show part of
ATF.
many of them being unique
to the island of Borneo, in
the states of Sabah and
Sarawak, so I really want to
show our original culture,
what we call ‘asli’ in the
Malay language. I also want
to bring tourists to Carey
Island, south of Port Klang
and not too far from Kuala
Lumpur. It is the home of
the Mah-Meri, an aboriginal
tribe which creates
extraordinary sculptures.
[INTERVIEW BY RICHARD BARNES]
What plans do you have
for the ASEAN Tourism
Forum (ATF), due to be
held in 2014 in Malaysia?
The ATF will be the first
What cultural and
heritage attractions will
you emphasise?
Malaysia official records
show 147 ethnic groups,
Hall 26 A
Stand 121
ITB BERLIN NEWS • Wednesday 6 th March 2013