Americans increasingly finding Malaysia an interesting destination

Americans are increasingly finding Malaysia an interesting destination, said Johanif Ali, the vice president of Tourism Malaysia’s New York office, in an interview with Bernama at the

New York Times Travel show.

“I have been told by Malaysian friends, including tourist guides, that they are having more and more American tourists who take cruise ships to Singapore and then come for a day to Malaysia.

“My contacts tell us that they are completely booked because of the American arrivals,” Johanif said, adding that he sees a “substantial rise in this trend”.

Tourism Malaysia’s New York office has, meanwhile, lined up a number of programmes to bolster its promotional activities in the United States.

For 2014, for example, it will continue with its digital bill board ad at New York’s Times Square, which has its annual “ball drop” – the countdown to the ending of the year and the ushering in of the new year – and which is a busy and popular tourist attraction not only for Americans but also foreign tourists.

The bill board advertising will run from March 1, 2014 to February 28, 2015.

Another project that Johanif is overseeing from New York is a six-night visit by the advisory board of Travel & Leisure, a leading travel/tourism magazine, to Malaysia; the visitors will discuss with Malaysian operators a wide range of travel and tourism issues.

“We are going to continue with our tactical campaigning. Our stand this year at the New York Times Travel Show is bigger to accommodate the growing number of visitors to our stand.

“We will hold eight seminars this year instead of four in the past to intensify our exchanges with tour operators, travel agents.

“Another promotional project I have in mind is a bus or a large van that will have large bill boards about Malaysia’s tourism attractions and will ply not just in New York but on the entire east coast.

“The vehicle will also be accompanied by a cultural troupe attired in colourful Malaysian costumes, handing out brochures and having fun games to engage the public.

“The vehicle, which will be fitted with a large screen, will operate in the summer season,” he said.