Malaysia Shows Strong Tourism Presence At ATF 2019
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On 14th to 18th January 2019, Malaysia shows strong presence at the 38th ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) which was led by Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, YB Datuk Mohamaddin bin Ketapi at Ha Long Bay, Vietnam.
Comprised of 33 sellers from hotels and resorts, tour agencies and state tourism boards, namely Tourism Selangor, Tourism Johor, Penang Global and Sabah Tourism Board, the Malaysian delegation also include the Secretary General of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Datuk Rashidi Hasbullah, Datuk Ahmad Shah Hussein Tambakau, Chairman of Tourism Malaysia and Director General of Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Musa Yusof.
Various events at ATF allowing Malaysian private sector to expand their business opportunity, including exhibition and business appointments, conferences and networking sessions, tourism trade networking event and ASEAN National Tourism Organisation and Association meetings. ATF is one of the most significant annual tourism promotional events in Asia where ASEAN Ministers uses as a platform to meet and discuss regional issues. And this is the first time that YB Datuk Mohamaddin has attended this tourism event in his ministerial capacity with peers from the region.
ATF 2019 obtains participation from 315 buyers with 289 exhibitor booths, with companies from 10 ASEAN countries, as well as 145 international media.
Malaysia’s participation in the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2019 in Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam, has been fruitful as it opens various opportunities with international travel agents.
ATF is made up of various high-level events, including a meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers and a meeting of the ASEAN NTOs. YB Datuk Mohamaddin will attend various Bilateral Meetings of the ASEAN NTOs and Tourism Ministers such as the 22nd ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting, 18th ASEAN Plus Three Tourism Ministers Meeting (China, Japan & Republic of Korea), 7th ASEAN-India Tourism Ministers Meeting and the ASEAN Tourism Conference.
Highlights of Malaysia’s Participation at ATF 2019:
On 16th to 18 January 2019, ATF TRAVEX, a key platform for networking and contract negotiations with international trade buyers, which is held at the Quang Ninh Exhibition Center, (QNEPEC) was one of the major programmes which Malaysia has participated in.
The event is made up of numerous activities, including buyers converging at Tourism Malaysia’s booth to engage with representatives of Malaysian tourism players and organisations, the showcase of Malaysia Airlines introducing its product offerings, MHexplorer and MHenterprise, as well as a new Business Suite. Apart from those, there are also Desaru Coast, Movenpick Hotel & Convention Centre, Tourism Selangor and Tourism Johor representatives welcoming all interested visitors with full tourism insights at Malaysia booth.
Malaysia has expected to achieve more than 1,000 appointments with international buyers across 51 countries. The platform is effective in raising awareness among international delegates and media on various exciting tourism products, services and events in Malaysia.
National Tourism Organisation (NTO) Country Media Briefing:
Datuk Ahmad Shah Hussein Tambakau, Chairman of Tourism Malaysia and Datuk Musa Yusof the Director General of Tourism Malaysia have shared Malaysia tourism highlights to the media at the NTO Media Briefing on 17 January 2019 at the Meeting Room of the Quang Ninh Exhibition Center, (QNEPEC). The 45-minute briefing is attended by 50 international media members.
Tourism Malaysia shares its plans to enhance tourism industry through airline partnerships, engagement with digital technology, marketing plans to first-and second-tier cities, and penetration into the filming industry.
The Visit Sarawak and Visit Melaka campaigns are also highlighted this year, including Tourism Malaysia’s key upcoming events and initiatives such as ITB Partner Country titleship in March 2019, the 5th World Tourism Conference from 26th to 28th August 2019 in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and the Malaysia-China Cooperation Year in 2019-2020. New products and hotels, such as Desaru Coast, Alila Dalit Bay, Sabah, and the world’s first Monopoly Hotel, are also underlined.
Moreover, there are 69 multi-countries travel packages featuring ASEAN destination from 38 travel agents across Southeast Asia Malaysia is one of a significant members creating this initiative of The ASEAN Tourism Packages 2019-2020 to promote ASEAN as single destination with cooperation from all ASEAN members.
These packages will be promoted through Tourism Malaysia and ASEAN NTOs websites as an online platform to entice more tourists to visit ASEAN.
ASEAN Tourism Awards 2019
On 18 January 2019, a total of 18 Malaysian organisations have won the ASEAN Tourism Awards for ASEAN’s Best Sustainable Tourism Products Recognition for both rural and urban areas.
The winners are as follows:
3rd ASEAN Homestay Standard (2019-2021)
1.Pachitan Homestay, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan
2.Ba’Kelalan HomestaySarawak
3.Misompuru Homestay, Kudat Sabah
4.Banghuris Homestay, Sepang Selangor
5.Rawa Homestay, Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan
2nd ASEAN Community Based Tourism Standard (2019-2021)
1.Koperasi Pembangunan Kampung Ulu Legong Berhad, Baling, Kedah
2.Min House Camp, Kota Bharu, Kelantan
3.Kadamaian Tourism Association, Kota Belud, Sabah
1st ASEAN Spa Services Standard (2019-2021)
1.The Banjaran Hotspring Retreat, Ipoh, Perak
2.Swasana Spa, Kuala Lumpur
3.Pangkor Laut Resort (Spa Village), Pangkor, Perak
4.Chill Chill Glenmarie, Shah Alam, Selangor
5.Jari Jari Spa, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
1st ASEAN Public Toilet Standard (2019-2020)
1.Kuala Lumpur International Airport Public Toilet, Sepang, Selangor
2.Foh San Restaurant Public Toilet, Ipoh, Perak
3.Melaka Chinese Mosque Public Toilet, Krubong, Melaka
4.Pantai Rantau Abang Public Toilet, Dungun, Terengganu
5.Plaza Merdeka Shopping Centre Public Toilet, Kuching, Sarawak
About Tourism Malaysia
TOURISM MALAYSIA is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. In 2017, Malaysia registered 25.9 million tourist arrivals, placing it among the major tourism destinations of the world.
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