A Message from Panorama Destination Malaysia:
Hello from Malaysia!
There’s plenty to report from Panorama Destination Malaysia at the moment, as the country is currently in the midst of the school holidays – this means there are loads of domestic events and celebrations happening in all states. March is always a fun and exciting time to visit, with plenty of festivals and cultural events in the calendar to enjoy.
It’s all building towards Ramadhan in the third week of the month, when social activities tend to slow down out of respect for the holy month. In the build-up to this most peaceful of times, lots of destinations get the last bit of fun and frivolity out of their systems – so whether you’re looking for excitement or relaxation, Malaysia offers a bit of both in March!
Speaking of fun, we recently welcomed our colleagues from Panorama Destination Thailand to the KL office, who conducted training for our Tour Plan system. This was a really enjoyable way to build our capacity and develop the skills of our staff – ultimately, it will help us to provide better and more supportive services to our partners and clients, while also synergising operations across the various Panorama Destination travel locations.
At Panorama Destination Malaysia, our calendar is looking pretty packed this month, with plenty of new clients to handle and some exciting events of our own on the horizon. Chief among these is ITB Berlin, where we’ll be joining the Indonesia and Thailand representatives in our respective country pavilions.
At ITB, we’ll be able to share some new products and services that travellers are sure to enjoy in the weeks and months ahead. The East Coast of Peninsula Malaysia is especially popular during Ramadan, and we have a number of tours that showcase the many and varied delights of this destination. One of the most popular among our clients and partners is the golfing package, which combines a little light exercise with beautiful views, great facilities and charming service.
I will personally be representing Malaysia at ITB Berlin, and hope to explore potential opportunities for partnerships with you there. If you are attending ITB Berlin, please do drop by to say hello – it would be a pleasure for me to work with you in selling Malaysia!
Natasha Jimin
Country Manager, Panorama Destination Malaysia.
Destination digest: Malaysia news in brief
A selection of bitesize news stories currently making the headlines in Malaysia:
Malaysia expects increase in Brunei tourists
The re-opening of the Brunei-Malaysia land and sea borders by the Sultanate last year is expected to see a drastic increase in the number of Bruneians visiting Malaysia. Sarawak, being the only state in Malaysia sharing land borders with Brunei, plays a key role in bilateral relations between the two countries, Malaysian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Datuk Raja Reza Raja Zaib Shah said on Friday.
(source: The Star)
Govt. urged to implement VOA for all tourists
The Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (Mita) has urged for swift implementation of the visa-on-arrival (VOA) scheme for tourists from all countries. This is to bring in 15.5 million tourists this year, and bolster Malaysia’s competitiveness in the global tourism industry, said Mita president Uzaidi Udanis.
(source: New Straits Times)
Big-spending Chinese tourists expected to boost tourism economy
Tourists from China used to visit South-east Asian countries like Malaysia in large tour groups, but that was before the Covid-19 pandemic. Their preferences appear to have changed to smaller sized groups, and Malaysian tour operators, like others in the region, are ready to cater to these tourists, whom they had pegged as big spenders – more so after being stuck inside their home country for the past three years.
(source: Malay Mail)
Tourism events in Pahang expected to attract 13m tourists this year
As the tourism industry in Pahang slowly recovers, the state government is targeting the arrival of 13 million tourists to visit holiday destinations here this year. Pahang’s tourist arrivals totalled 10.18 million as of 31 December last year compared with 2 million in 2021 when the country’s borders were closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.
To get all the latest developments and breaking news coming out of Malaysia in the weeks ahead, simply follow Panorama Destination on our social media channels: