Tourism
From The Report: Malaysia 2016
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Malaysia has long traded on its alluring mix of nature, tropical beaches, vibrant culture and modern cities to bring in tourists from the region and further afield – the collage of attractions summed up in its long-running “Malaysia, Truly Asia” advertising campaign. But as its neighbours refine their offerings, the country is facing increased competition for foreign visitors and their spending, even as it sets itself ambitious targets for the future. The government has identified tourism as a key growth area under its plan to transform Malaysia into a high-income nation by 2020. To do so, the sector is turning to new markets – China, India and the Middle East – and diversifying its products. This chapter contains an interview with Tunku Ahmad Burhanuddin, Group Managing Director and CEO, Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Increasing variety: A range of initiatives aim to attract discerning travellers
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Malaysia has long traded on its alluring mix of nature, tropical beaches, vibrant culture and modern cities to bring in tourists from the region and further afield; the multicultural country’s attractions summed up in its long-running “Malaysia, Truly Asia” advertising campaign. But as Malaysia’s neighbours refine their offerings, the country is facing increased competition for visitors and their all-important spending, even as it sets itself ambitious targets for the future. The government…

Interview

Target markets: OBG talks to Tunku Ahmad Burhanuddin, Group Managing Director and CEO, Themed Attractions Resorts & Hotels
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Interview:Tunku Ahmad Burhanuddin What potential is there for development of the tourism and hospitality sectors outside of Malaysia’s traditional tourism centres? TUNKU AHMAD BURHANUDDIN: Malaysia has done well to develop its tourism sector recently, but we still lag behind our Indonesian, Thai and Singaporean neighbours in tourist arrivals and spending. The market is there, and government and business are working hard to take advantage of this, but I feel that the industry’s efforts…

Analysis

Staycations: Malaysians are increasingly choosing to holiday at home
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Domestic tourism has become an important component of Malaysia’s tourism industry over the past decade, as local incomes have increased, helping cushion the impact of any slowdown in international tourism. This segment is likely to play an increasing role in 2016, as the decline in the value of the ringgit makes overseas travel more expensive for Malaysians and encourages them to take their holidays at home. The development of theme parks, shopping malls, and well-priced small hotels, are also…

Analysis

Rest and relaxation: Efforts under way to boost spa and wellness tourism
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These days more and more people are looking for an escape – from the demands of their everyday life and the pressures of work – and have the means to pay for a holiday that is not only about “getting away from it all”, but also restoring health and wellbeing. The global wellness tourism industry, which includes spas and more health-orientated treatment centres, saw revenues of $494bn in 2013, according to the Global Wellness Institute, and was dominated by European nations. The global spa…