ITB Berlin, March 2009 – Malaysia has had a highly successful tourism year 2008. The year 2009, too, started out promisingly: In January, the Southeast Asian country was visited by 5.1% more tourists than in the previous year. The „Visit Malaysia Year“ and the following „One Golden Celebration“ campaign attracted more international visitors to Malaysia than ever in the last year. The targeted number of 21.5 million international visitors was exceeded – with the German-speaking markets actually showing upper two-digit growth.
In 2008, more than 22 million (22,052,488) tourists traveled to Malaysia. This translates to a growth of 5.1% compared to the previous year. Visitors from Germany reached 111,500, resulting in an increase of 42%. Austria showed an 18% plus with 14,231 tourists, and visitors to Malaysia from Switzerland amounted to 26,489 (+ 28%).
Despite the global econominc crisis and a difficult market environment in Asia, Malaysia was able to show continued growth in January 2009. In the first month of the new year, 1,871,099 international visitors to Malaysia made for a 5.1% increase compared to the respective month of the previous year. The figures from Germany, meanwhile, rose notably more than the overall market: With 10,024 tourists, the German source market showed an increase of 15.8% in January.
Malaysia is particularly popular with tourists from Europe for its multi-cultural atmosphere and its unique natural beauty. The country is aiming to make its exotic flora and fauna accessible to these tourists – under aspects of sustainability. To accomplish this, Malaysia is carefully developing new eco tourism projects.
With the Belum Forest Reserve in the state of Perak by the border to Thailand, there is a hardly known eco tourism destination on the Malaysian peninsula. The Belum-Temengor rain forest spans 300,000 hectare of forest, 130 million years old and largely untouched by humanity. Many of the local animals and plants are unique to the area: there are three variants of the giant blossom Rafflesia, for example, which grow nowhere else in the world. The Malayan tiger, the Sumatra rhinoceros, the Malayan tapir and ten species of hornbills are further indigenous to the area.
The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre marks the newest eco tourism project of the Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo. It is solely dedicated to the sun bear, a species threatened by extinction. The center is being built in close vicinity of the Sepilok.
After repeated cuts in kerosene surcharges from Frankfurt to Kuala Lumpur by national carrier Malaysia Airlines, nonstop flights from Frankfurt to the capital of Malaysia in the least expensive booking category are available for as little as 630 euros including all taxes, fees and surcharges. Flights within Malaysia are exempt from kerosene surcharges. In addition to nonstop connections with Malaysia Airlines, several other airlines offer (direct) flights to Kuala Lumpur/Malaysia, such as Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airlines, China Airlines and Cathay Pacific.
The Sutera Harbour Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, serves as an excellent choice for a golf and nature paradise. A 27-hole golf course, two 5-star hotels, a private marina and the romantic island of Manakan invite to a relaxing stay before or after a visit to the mountain and park Mt Kinabalu. More information: www.suteraharbour.eu or via mail to info@suteraharbour.eu.
