Tag Archives: Manoharan

In an exclusive interview with TravTalk ME, Datuk Manoharan Periasamy – Director General of Tourism Malaysia shared that they expect to close the year with one million visitors from the Middle East region. “Last year, Malaysia welcomed 194,000 visitors from the Middle East. Given our strategic initiatives, increased connectivity, and renewed market engagement, we are setting our sights much higher. Based on current airline capacity planning and market interest, we confidently project welcoming more than one million visitors from the Middle East by the end of 2025.” Speaking on some of the key initiatives that they are currently working on, Periasamy reiterated, “We recognise the growing need to introduce more B2C-focused programs tailored for the Middle Eastern market. We’ve observed that younger travellers from this region are increasingly exploring destinations other than Malaysia—possibly due to a perception that Malaysia lacks activities or products that cater specifically to their interests and lifestyles. In response, we have initiated collaborations with trusted local partners in the Middle East to develop “soft adventure” and lifestyle experiences that appeal to the younger demographic. While families from the region continue to choose Malaysia as a preferred holiday destination, we aim to re-engage younger travellers who are currently exploring alternatives in neighbouring countries. Our industry discussions and trade events with Middle Eastern operators have highlighted a key challenge: accessibility. While Malaysia receives a considerable number of Middle Eastern visitors—many of whom travel for religious purposes—the seat capacity between major cities in Saudi Arabia and Kuala Lumpur remains limited. To address this, we are actively working with key airlines including Riyadh Air and flynas. We are optimistic about launching direct routes from Saudi Arabia to Malaysia—potentially as early …

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