Dubai: Tourism Malaysia revs up its efforts to further strengthen ties with West Asia at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM 2024) in Dubai with new agreements.
"We have a strong presence at this year's ATM with an aim to attract more tourists to our country. We have learnt at the ATM that we should focus on more on sustainable and biodiversity tourism," said Yasmin Mahmood, Chairman of Malaysia Tourism while talking to travelsdubai.com on the sidelines of a press conference at the ATM.
She said that the Tourism Malaysia has signed MOU with Emirates to develop tourism and also entered into negotiations with other airlines such as Qatar Airways and Etihad airline to strengthen our collaborations in the region. "GCC is the major source of tourists for Malaysia and we want to develop seamless connectivity for passengers," she added. Mohammed Fadly Amri Aliaman, Consul General of Malaysia in Dubai was also present at the event.
Tourism Malaysia is participating in the 31st edition ATM 2024, showcasing the country’s latest attractions and destinations to attract more tourists from West Asia. The four-day prestigious event held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 6 to 9 May 2024 marks Malaysia’s 31st year of participation, demonstrating its enduring commitment to this burgeoning market.
Big delegation
Led by Yasmin Mahmood, and accompanied by Shaharuddin bin Abu Sohot, Deputy Secretary General (Management), Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, the Malaysian delegation comprises a good mix of 75 organisations, including hotels and resorts, travel agents, tourism product owners, and representatives from state tourism boards.
The Malaysia Pavilion focused to engage with Middle Eastern buyers, generating interest while highlighting tourism products and services tailored to their specific needs and preferences, thus underscoring the importance placed on West Asia as a key source of tourists, especially during its summer vacation.
Visit Malaysia Year 2026
Yasmin Mahmood said: “With the upcoming launch and celebration of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, we strive to attract more West Asia tourists. We recognise the immense potential of this market, not only in terms of outbound tourism but also trade and investment.
“We are confident that Malaysia’s position as a top destination for Muslim travellers, coupled with our intensified promotional efforts, will enable us to achieve our target."
In 2024, Malaysia aims to welcome 27.3 million international tourist arrivals and generate RM102.7 billion in tourism receipts. The remarkable rise in visitors from the
Gulf region in recent years fuels Tourism Malaysia’s enthusiasm to further cultivate this market.
Tourism Malaysia
Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as 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. The next Visit Malaysia Year, set to take place in 2026, will commemorate the sustainability of the nation's tourism industry, which is also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).