Malaysia To Draw More Tourists From Pakistan

March 08, 2009 17:08 PM

By Muin Abdul Majid

DUBAI, March 8 (Bernama) -- Tourism Malaysia is putting on its thinking cap to lure more tourists from Pakistan to Malaysia, the number of whom was 68,000 last year.

Its regional director for Africa, West and South Asia, Abdul Rahman Shaari, said one of the initiatives would include Malaysian food and cultural promotions in Pakistan in May.

"The shows are likely to be held in Islamabad and Karachi," he told Bernama when relating the outcome of his recent visit to Pakistan.

Abdul Rahman said contacts had been established with travel agents who were keen to promote Malaysia, and efforts would be made to increase their numbers with the assistance of the Malaysian High Commission in Islamabad and consulate-general in Karachi.

"We're looking at the possibility of providing them with window displays and brochures on what Malaysia has to offer," he said, adding that related seminars may also be organised for them.

According to the Tourism Malaysia official, there was a need to promote Malaysian tourist destinations using local print and electronic media outlets.

"Doing so via international news channels like CNN and BBC may not reach as many people in Pakistan as we want," he said.

Abdul Rahman said that despite domestic issues in Pakistan, Pakistanis such as traders, businessmen, honeymooners, students and families were still travelling overseas.

"And based on feedback, Malaysian education and healthcare sectors would sell very well among the Pakistani public," he said.

Elaborating on the proposed Malaysian food and cultural promotion shows, he said the plan was to bring in a cultural troupe, chefs and people in the know about the Malaysian tourism industry.

"We want, for example, our chefs to appear on television to introduce Malaysian cuisine to the Pakistani public," he said.

Abdul Rahman said a Pakistani television station and a well-known magazine had expressed willingness to cooperate with Tourism Malaysia on the planned tourism promotion events.

He said the issue of accessibility between Pakistan and Malaysia would also need to be addressed if tourist numbers from Pakistan were to increase.

In this regard, he said Malaysia Airlines should consider flying to Lahore, describing it as one of the more important cities in Pakistan.

Abdul Rahman said Pakistan's tourism authorities had also invited Malaysian companies to be involved in tourism infrastructure projects in that country.

"We also talked about training opportunities in Malaysia's tourism sector for Pakistanis as well as the exchange of visits between tourism officials," he added.

-- BERNAMA