Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan
Tengku Mansor
Q:How important is the U.S. market to Malaysia?
A: It is very important. For Americans, Malaysia is the third
most popular Southeast Asian travel destination, behind Thailand
and Singapore. Also, the U.S. is Malaysia’s top trade partner,
while Malaysia is America’s 10th largest trade partner.
We are now taking a serious look at developing the U.S. as a
long-haul market. Travel from the U.S. is up more than 30 percent
over last year, and we believe that there still is a lot more
potential for growth. We are reaffirming our commitment to the U.S.
and will be increasing our promotional budget in this region.
Q: How many travelers visit Malaysia every year?
A: This year we anticipate 20.1 million total visitors. Through
June 2007, we have already seen 10.7 million arrivals, reflecting
total receipts of $22.4 billion. Our research shows that 50 percent
of our visitors are repeat travelers, indicating just how popular
the destination is with people who have been here. From the U.S. we
expect 220,000 travelers this year, and as of June 2007, we have
already welcomed 107,335 Americans.
Pangkor Laut, a private island off the
West Coast of Malaysia, is one of the
world’s premier resorts.
Q:What do Americans like to do in Malaysia?
A: We are known for the value for the money we offer. Also,
Malaysia is a very natural destination. The only thing we don’t
have is natural snow. We have a 130-million-year-old rainforest
that offers lots of eco activities. Bird-watching is very popular
in Malaysia, which is home to some 400 bird species. Malaysia is
also attractive to filmmakers, who like to use our state-of-the-art
production houses. Movies such as “Entrapment,” starring Sean
Connery, “Anna & the King,” and the original “Survivor Borneo”
were all filmed here.
Q:What are the biggest roadblocks for U.S. visitors?
A: In the U.S., Malaysia’s two biggest shortcomings are
awareness and accessibility. In terms of awareness, we are
spreading the message that Malaysia is a safe destination. Our
image as a Muslim country might be disturbing for some, but we are
a moderate people, and we believe in peace. We do not believe in
extremism or terrorism. In fact, last year Global Traveler magazine
listed Malaysia as their “Best Tourism Destination.”
In terms of accessibility we only have eight direct flights a
week from the U.S. One daily flight from LAX via Taipei and another
departure leaves three times weekly, from Newark via Stockholm. We
are now working with various carriers to increase access to
Malaysia.
