Expanding Tourist Options Beyond Popular Destinations
The Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, commonly known as Tourism Malaysia, plans to promote lesser-known tourist destinations within the country to attract more Thai travelers. Currently, the most popular Malaysian destinations among Thai tourists are Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Pahang, and Malacca.
In an effort to showcase these secondary locations, Tourism Malaysia will collaborate with relevant agencies to promote destinations such as Kuching, known for its stunning natural beauty; Mount Kinabalu on Borneo island; and Perak state, which shares a border with Thailand’s Yala province.
The Allure of Perak State
Perak state is famous for its delicious food, limestone caves, and picturesque mountains. Thanapat Tiyanont, Marketing Officer of Tourism Malaysia Bangkok Office, believes that these attractions make Perak an ideal destination for Thai tourists.
During the first four months of the year, Malaysia has already welcomed around 500,000 Thai visitors. Tiyanont is optimistic that the country can achieve its target of attracting 1 million Thai tourists before the year ends.
Increased Direct Flights to Boost Tourism
To support this tourism growth, there will be more direct flights connecting Malaysia and Thailand. In June, Malaysia’s MYAirline launched direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok. Rayner Teo Kheng Hock, CEO of MYAirline, explained that Bangkok was chosen as their first international destination due to the rising number of business and leisure travelers between the two countries.
The Tourism and Sports Ministry of Thailand reported that the country received 1,696,358 Malaysian visitors from January to May, a significant increase from 76,420 visitors during the same period last year. Rayner believes that this trend will continue as trade and tourism between Malaysia and Thailand are expected to further develop in the coming years.
MYAirline’s Rapid Expansion
Founded in January 2021, MYAirline began offering domestic flights from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, and Langkawi in December. The airline has since expanded its services to include nine domestic destinations.
By promoting secondary destinations and increasing direct flight connectivity, Malaysia aims to attract more Thai tourists and strengthen the bond between the two neighboring countries.
