Tourism Malaysia, a leading organisation under the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, that is responsible for promoting the country as a preferred destination for travellers, outlined its ambitious plans for growth today at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019 in Dubai.

Tourism Malaysia’s participation at this year's ATM is designed to support the objectives of the Visit Malaysia 2020 initiative, which aims to attract more than 30 million tourists and around Dh89 billion ($24.24 billion) in tourist receipts.

More than 50 representatives from key stakeholders in Malaysia’s travel and hospitality sectors are in Dubai for the event, where they are showcasing the latest news and updates on the country’s tourism offerings, said a statement from Tourism Malaysia.

The GCC remains a key market for inbound tourism to Malaysia, with total arrivals from West Asia standing at 315,733 during 2018, up 25 per cent over the previous year.

The number of visitors from Saudi Arabia have risen by 11.7 per cent, while UAE travellers increased by 9.7 per cent. Oman recorded the biggest rise in visitor numbers, at 36.9 per cent, it stated.

During the same period, visitors from the region contributed more than around Dh2.7 billion to Malaysia’s economy, with tourism receipts rising by 33 per cent compared to 2017.

Travellers from GCC countries also recorded the highest average expenditure per person, with visitors from Saudi Arabia spending around Dh10,300 ($2,804), the UAE around Dh8,300 ($2,259), Oman around Dh7,500 ($2,042), and Kuwait around Dh7,400 ($2,014), it added.

YB Datuk Mohamaddin bin Ketapi, Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, said: “It’s a pleasure to be here in the UAE, a nation with which we enjoy strong cultural ties and a long history of close cooperation. It is particularly relevant for us to be here during the national Year of Tolerance, which highlights the common values of our two countries by emphasising the importance of diversity and harmonious coexistence. We look forward to further building on our shared legacy of cultural exchange and extend a warm invitation to travellers from the Middle East to visit our beautiful country and discover what makes Malaysia ‘truly Asia’.”

Malaysia was recently named the number one destination for Muslim travellers for the ninth consecutive year by Singapore-based CrescentRating, making the Southeast Asian nation an attractive option for visitors from the Middle East, said the statement from Tourism Malaysia.

The country is also easily accessible to travellers, with the majority of airline companies in the region running regular direct flights to and from Malaysia’s main airports, it stated.

The Tourism Malaysia’s booth has several tourist attractions on display. These include Desaru Coast, a new integrated resort that features a portfolio of globally renowned hotels and spans more than 3,900 acres along a pristine 17km beachfront. The resort is also home to one of the world’s biggest waterparks, a fully equipped conference facility, two golf clubs, and a 23-acre waterfront landscaped retail and lifestyle village.

Other destinations showcased include Genting Highlands, which has been refreshed with a new indoor theme park, Skytropolis, and shopping opportunities at Genting Highlands Premium Outlets and Sky Avenue Mall; Melaka, which is located two and a half hours drive from Kuala Lumpur and offers a variety of attractions for Arab tourists interested to learn Malaysia’s rich history; Johor Bahru, a family destination renowned as the country’s new theme park hub; and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah, which offers exceptional attractions for nature lovers and soft adventurers. –TradeArabia News Service