Tourism Malaysia eyes over 66 million domestic tourists

Tourism Malaysia has set a target of 66.8 million domestic tourists with a total expenditure of the RM45.7 billion this year.

Its deputy director-general (strategic and domestic), Chong Yoke Har told a press conference here Thursday, she believed the depreciating ringgit would further encourage domestic tourism.

The growth of domestic tourism has increased by 11.6 percent from 54.4 million people in 2013 to 60.7 million in 2014, with the total expenditure of RM41.4 billion, an increase of 16 percent as compared to RM35.6 billion in 2013.

From March 11 to 13, Chong said Tourism Malaysia targeted the sale of 17,896 tourism packages worth RM4.6 million, including nature and island holidays, through its participation in the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here.

Chong said 56 tour operators, 34 hotel/resort operators and 20 tourism products operators would participate in the fair.