Malaysia has opened its gates for the tourists to further boost its billion dollar tourist industry, and the person who has been entrusted with the responsibility to take the industry to new heights is none other than Malaysian Tourism Deputy Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Malaysian landscape is described by the tourists and travellers as 'heaven on earth.' True that 'beauty lies in the eye of the beholder', but it is also true that the eye would accept and appreciate only the object which is possessed of beauty.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi accepts the fact that selling Malaysia is easier for him because of his country's natural surroundings which provide tranquillity and a soothing break to fatigued executives and general travellers who go on holidays in search of peace and relaxation.
The Malaysian tourism deputy minister, who is here on a selling mission, told Business Recorderhere on Saturday that tourism is the second largest industry after manufacturing in Malaysia. In 2004, the country's direct earnings from this source stood at 7.9 billion dollars and on indirect basis the earnings were 1.5 times more than this amount. In 2005, the minister expected that the earnings from tourism would touch an incredible figure of 10 billion dollars.
He said: "In Asean, we are on top having provided hospitality to 15.7 million tourists, and stood only second behind China in the region which had entertained 22.5 million tourists last year, as tourism contributes 9.5 percent of the total GDP."
Hamidi described Pakistan as an emerging market with plenty of potentials, saying his mission is to attract discerning tourists by telling them that Malaysia is the country they should make their destination when planning a holiday this season or in future. Malaysian Consul General Long Rashid, who was also present during the hour-long interview, intervened to announce that getting a tourist visa was no problem, saying: "We are open and quick in processing applications to facilitate the visitors to our country."
The minister said that Malaysia is open not only for the average tourists, but would also welcome 'high end tourists', the term by high to describe the high profile travellers who fall in higher income group.
Hamidi was all praise for the pragmatic and result-oriented policies being pursued by President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. "The economic growth has shown that the country is progressing at a rapid pace. It is a fast growing nation," he said.
He said: "The leadership combination of the President and the Prime Minister is 'very good'. The middle income group in Pakistan is growing and expanding very fast."
He said: "Malaysia is a safe and stable country. We are a Muslim country and offer Halal food."
Hamidi said that during his stay here his emphasis would also be to promote, what he described 'education tourism.' There are 600 institutes of higher learning in the country where 38,000 students from all over the world are pursuing their studies. The standard of education is very high. It could be compared to the standard available in institutes of higher learning in USA and UK. All these institutes are affiliated with the institutes in USA and UK, in disciplines in which they offer education, he said.
"You study in Malaysia and get a degree from USA or UK based institute," he said, adding Malaysian institutes are not expensive and the charges are one-third less than what the students pay while studying in American and European institutes.
Hamidi emphasised that his country would welcome Pakistani students in Malaysian educational institutes which are second to none providing quality education.
He said the travel and tour operators from Pakistan and Malaysia are now working on a feasibility report for the setting up of a joint corporation for the promotion of tourism on reciprocal basis between the two countries.
Malaysian tourism deputy minister will also visit Lahore and Islamabad where he is due to meet the minister and minister of state of tourism, Government of Pakistan.
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