SINGAPORE, Oct 7 — Malaysia expects to receive 7.8 million Singaporean tourists this year, the Tourism, Arts & Culture Ministry (MOTAC) said.
Singapore is currently the highest contributor to tourist arrivals to Malaysia with 4,537,550 tourist arrivals recorded up to July this year.
“This will contribute to the RM49.2 billion in tourism receipts, providing a much-needed economic boost to the country,” said MOTAC’s Deputy Secretary-General (Culture) Mohd Yusri Mohd Yusoff at the opening ceremony of the Travel Malaysia Fair 2023 held here, today (Saturday).
He said the Tourism Malaysia Singapore office has embarked on a number of exciting initiatives this year to bring more Singaporean tourists to exciting locations and hidden gems, for an authentic Malaysian cultural experience, far from the big cities.
“These include a strategic collaboration with Batam Fast Ferry and participation in consumer exhibitions such as NATAS Holidays and Travel Malaysia Fair Series 1.
“We hope that these programmes will be beneficial to Singapore Travel Agents and media, in addition to familiarisation trips to the east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak in the Borneo island, and holding numerous B2B workshops and seminars,” he said.
Mohd Yusri noted that both Malaysia and Singapore have good connectivity to other parts of the world via road, air, rail, and sea.
“The people of Singapore have access to a wide range of airline options, as there are currently eight airlines that provide a total of 452 direct flights and more than 100,000 seats per week between their country and Malaysia,” he said.
Themed ‘Malaysia Truly Asia’, Travel Malaysia Fair is held for three days at Central Atrium of Marina Square here, until Oct 8, in conjunction with Malaysia-Singapore Triennial Cultural Showcase 2023.
MOTAC is targeting an influx of 16.1 million foreign tourists with RM49.2 billion in tourism revenue this year.
