Tourism Malaysia on a mission in Taiwan

Tourism Malaysia Published 1 year ago on 19 January 2023 | Author TIN Media
MALAYSIA:

To increase its marketing efforts in Taiwan, Tourism Malaysia organized a sales mission last week to get Taiwanese tourists to rebook their trips to Malaysia after a two-year hiatus.

The Malaysian delegation, which was led by Tourism Malaysia's senior director of international promotion (Asia & Africa), Manoharan Periasamy, included 10 MM2H agencies, 10 travel agents, a product owner, two homestay operators, three hotel/resort operators, two homestay operators, and ten other organizations.

The sales expedition in Taiwan took place last week in two cities, Kaoushiung, intending to bring in more Taiwanese visitors to Malaysia by raising awareness of Malaysia as a great and secure vacation spot following the pandemic.

Through its business-to-business events, the mission also promoted better collaboration between tour operators and other members of the tourist community. It is also a crucial move to regain travelers' trust in Malaysia, reinforcing Malaysia's position as a premier travel destination.

Additionally, Tourism Malaysia held a seminar in Taipei to promote specialized offerings like Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) and homestay packages.

Before the pandemic, Malaysia saw 382,916 visitors arrive, spending MYR 2.2 billion on travel from Taiwan in 2019.

During the opening of the mission, Manoharan said: "The epidemic has been extremely difficult for us, but I am happy to let you know that ever since the reopening of our international border in April 2022, we have received more than 7 million foreign visitor arrivals in 2022.

"Therefore, we are hopeful about achieving higher figures in 2023, when we have a target to welcome 15.6 million international tourists with MYR47.6 billion in tourism earnings," the statement reads.

The Federal Government of Malaysia launched the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) Program to persuade foreigners who meet specific requirements to live in Malaysia for an extended period on a five-year renewable Pass with a Multiple-Entry Visa. All international nationals, regardless of race, religion, or gender, are welcome. All applicants must meet specific personal and financial requirements established by the Malaysian government.

For Taiwanese seeking long-stay places, Malaysia is typically one of the best choices. The program's success can be ascribed to Malaysia's pleasant climate, quick flight schedules, and comparatively low cost of living. They can live a lavish life in Malaysia because of the welcoming-long stay regulations put in place under the MM2H scheme.

Taiwan continues to be a significant market for Malaysia. Regarding connection, 59 flights a week are offered by Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, AirAsia X, Batik Air, EVA Air, China Airlines, and Starlux Airlines between Taiwan and Malaysia.