Tourism minister visits GCC countries to strengthen tourism ties, as Malaysia expected to see more than 55,000 arrivals from region

Tiong (left) in a discussion with Oman Minister of Heritage and Tourism Salim Mohammed al Mahrouqi at the latter's office on Aug 12, 2024.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Aug 14: Malaysia anticipates it will see more than 55,000 tourist arrivals from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries of Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this year.

These arrivals will contribute to the overall target of 27.3 million international arrivals and RM102.7 billion in tourism receipts.

In a statement dated Aug 12, Tourism Malaysia (TM) revealed the Federal Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, is on a 10-day working visit to these GCC countries from Aug 10 to 19.

The aim is to foster stronger cooperation between Malaysia’s tourism industries and the GCC countries, laying the groundwork for future collaborations.

TM highlighted that this initiative is expected to boost tourist flow and further solidify the longstanding close relations between Malaysia and these four nations while strengthening personal ties between leaders.

It disclosed that Tiong will hold discussions with relevant ministers, airlines, leading travel agents, and business leaders in Muscat, Kuwait City, Manama, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai.

“Key topics on the agenda include exploring collaborative efforts to promote Visit Malaysia Year 2026, the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme and other opportunities for joint promotion to attract tourists from the GCC market,” said TM.

It further highlighted that the visits will provide valuable insights into Malaysia’s tourism strategic plans and initiatives, emphasising high-impact and fast-conversion strategies apart from trade and investment opportunities.

The GCC market holds significant importance for Malaysia’s tourism sector, consistently ranking among the top five international tourist spenders per capita, with a longer average length of stay.

In 2023, Malaysia welcomed 40,384 tourists from Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, and UAE, generating RM428.84 million in tourist receipts. While these figures reflect positive growth, reaching pre-pandemic levels is crucial.

Accompanying Tiong is the Deputy Chairman of Tourism Malaysia, Dato Yeoh Soon Hin, and the Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Manoharan Periasamy. — DayakDaily