[IMG=20987-6823] The Minister of Tourism of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, heads the delegation to Russia that presents the campaign Visit Malaysia – 2007. While his visit to Russia on September 13th a press-conference and dinner was held. Besides, formal and informal meetings are planned. For example, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor intends to meet with Head of Russian Union of Travel Industry, Sergey Shpilko, and Director of Aeroflot, Valery Okulov. Tourism Authorities of Malaysia plan to discuss with Aeroflot the relaunch of direct scheduled flights to Kuala Lumpur.
Participants of the delegation will also discuss further perspectives of co-operation with travel companies. Thus, they plan to attract Russian travel companies to promotion of the destination on the Russian travel market. Adnan Tengku Mansor said in the interview to a BANKO correspondent that they mean co-operative investments in advertising on TV, print media and the Internet. Moreover, they plan to accommodate publications in glossy magazines and on electronic billboards in Moscow streets. The total advertising budget of Malaysia is $50 million, but it is still unclear which part will be allocated to the advertising campaign in Russia. At the moment the Russian market is being analysed, the participants of the delegation said.
Meanwhile, in 2007 Malaysia expects to host around 21 million tourists. In 2005 the country was visited by 16,5 million people and in 2006 figures are approaching to 17,5 million tourists. However, at present the share of Russian tourists is not considerable – in 2005 8,386 Russians traveled to Malaysia that was 26,5% more than in 2004. At the moment the interest in the destination is increasing – for the period January – May 2006 7,243 tourists from Russia visited the country that is 76% more than for the same period of 2005.
Furthermore, Russian travel industry feel optimistic towards the initiative of the Minister. Thus, Elena Komarova, Tourism Director of IntAir, commented as follows: ‘at present the destination is not enough promoted in the Russian market. When tourists lack knowledge about the country the demand is formed with difficulty’. Moreover, a direct flight to Kuala Lumpur could also engender the interest in Malaysia, the expert said.
Simultaneously, there are other factors that prevent the increase in demand for the destination. ‘There is a shortage of good hotels in the country. For example, Borneo has only two good beach 5* hotels. At the moment many hotels are being reconstructed that makes us hope the situation will improve in 2007. Now the demand is far from high. I doubt that the planned flight to Kuala Lumpur will be run at full capacity’, forecasted Svetlana Firsova, Head of the Department of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore of Inna Tour.
