Tourism Malaysia is making a strong push to attract Indian tourists, embarking on its second roadshow in India for 2024. This initiative, in collaboration with the Malaysian Indian Tour & Travel Association (MITTA), will take place from September 23 to 30, 2024, covering four Tier-2 cities: Trivandrum, Calicut, Bhubaneswar, and Guwahati.
Leading the roadshow is Mr. Mohamad Libra Lee Haniff, Senior Deputy Director of Tourism Malaysia, accompanied by a delegation of 35 Malaysian organizations. This group includes hotels, resorts, travel agencies, tourism product owners, visa consultants, Malaysia-based airlines, and state tourism board representatives.
This roadshow builds on the positive outcomes from a previous roadshow in five major Indian cities earlier this year (February 12 to 22, 2024), and participation in key trade fairs such as the South Asia Travel & Tourism Exchange (SATTE) and Outbound Travel Mart (OTM). The dedication to promoting Malaysia as a destination for Indian travelers is evident in the impressive increase in tourist arrivals. By July 2024, Indian tourist arrivals to Malaysia surged by 84.5% compared to the same period in 2023, with a total of 624,312 visitors. This remarkable growth underscores Tourism Malaysia’s ambitious goal of welcoming 1 million Indian tourists by the end of 2024.
This B2B event provides a valuable platform for Malaysian tourism businesses to establish connections with their Indian counterparts. These connections pave the way for strategic partnerships to promote tourism products and services, leading to potential new business ventures in the Indian market. Additionally, the roadshow serves as a launchpad for highlighting the upcoming Visit Malaysia Year, scheduled for 2026.
With 220 flights operating weekly between India and Malaysia, offering a seating capacity of 41,161 passengers, accessibility is certainly not a barrier. These flights are offered by Malaysia Airlines, Batik Air, AirAsia, IndiGo, and the recently added Air India. The convenience and frequency of these flights make traveling to Malaysia a seamless experience for Indian travelers.
