Remembering the old days…Melaka River..

Melaka since 1999 till 2009, a total of 47.25 million tourists visited Melaka with an average increase almost 20% per annum and the average length of stay about 1.89 nights. During the eleven years, of which 76.6% came to Melaka are domestic tourists and the balance 23.4% is composed of foreign tourists.

In 2009 alone, we have received a total of 8.9 million tourist arrivals compared to 7.2 million tourists in 2008 an increase of 23.6% during the length of stay 1.89 nights. In terms of foreign markets, Singapore continues to be the market leader with shares of 17.2%, followed by China (12.5%), Indonesia (8.5%), Vietnam (2.6%) and Hong Kong (2.3%).

In the same period, emerging markets have been identified in addition to the traditional markets continue to remain. Five significant emerging markets is India, the United States, United Kingdom, Japan and Thailand where their number has now reached a total of 17,000 people until 34,000 people.

Arial view….

In 2010, the state government is targeting a total of 8.2 million tourists will visit Melaka and spent over a period of 3.0 nights. The State Government is confident this figure could be achieved if no factors outside our power to prevent their coming to this country. This achievement could be reached because of Melaka is indeed popular among tourists and rich tourism products and places of interest to visit, meet and recreation.

Total tourist expenditure is estimated for this year will achieve an increase of RM5.0 billion from 11:11% in 2009, which only recorded expenditure of RM4.5 billion.

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World Geography of Travel and Tourism: A Regional Approach
by Alan Lew.New: $49.45

Followed by increasing in Malaysia tourist Arrival 2009, Melaka also received great number of tourist arrival in 2009. Local tourist was the biggest contributor last year with 7.2 mil local tourist visiting Melaka last year. 6 times the number of Melaka population itself. From ASEAN country, as usual, Singaporean are number one contributor followed by Indonesia and others. Total of 485,970 (not including Malaysia).

Other top foreign tourist aarrivals are China:201,381 (Eastern Asia), Saudi Arabia:16,664 (Middle East),USA:19,604 (North America), United Kingdom:22,429 (Europe) and Australia:11,770 (Oceania). Malaysia always have a good political stability making it a reliable place for the investors and expatriate. Although the political issues is not as big as our neighboring countries that involve gunfire and people demonstrating in the street to ask certain leaders to quit Job, Malaysia always get the attention of foreign media for many small issues that describe like a big issues by them.

As always, school and parents will choose Melaka during school holiday because the historical remains are a good point for the student to do their class project. For example the Independence day Memorial. By a group package, very cheap to visit all the Museum in Melaka and some of it are free entrance. New added tourism products last year like Planetarium, Duck Tours, race track and Water Taxi help to boost the tourist arrival. 2010 also seeing new tourism products added like Melaka Wonderland that will sure to bring the crowd. Hot sunny day all year round making the water investment worth it.

Generally we can visit Melaka all year as there are no such extreme season like monsoon in the east coast of Malaysia. Foodie also find Melaka as one of the destination to choose because variety of food to experience like Straits Chinese Menu, Chitty and Portuguese – all you can get authentically in Melaka. Melaka fish grill also recognized throughout Malaysia and the spot are Around Serkam – Umbai.

Details about tourist arrival by country here.

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Information from Tourism Malaysia Media Release recently shown that tourist arrival for Malaysia in 2009 surpassed the 19 million target set by the government.

More details about the Tourist Arrival media release from Malaysia here.

The largest tourist came from Singapore, our neighboring country. Followed by Indonesia (196,592), Thailand (97,093), China (including Hong Kong & Macau) (94,322), Brunei (86,296), India (51,279), Australia (46,322), the Philippines (37,875), United Kingdom (35,222) and Japan (30,663).

Recent recession don’t affect much of tourist arrival due to diversity of tourism attraction in Malaysia that offer a very competitive and reasonable price compared to other country but for the same quality. Stable political surrounding with no major natural disaster make it a good choice for leisure, studies and expatriate.

Malaysian are known for their good hospitality with well education background making communication easier. The government also serious of doing enforcement to make Malaysia a safer place to be. You can feel it where almost nobody will interrupt you here and the beggar also will get caught. The Police force also have a special division for Tourist Police. Tourist Police will be seen at many tourism attraction.

So how about tourist arrival in Melaka for 2009? Ahah..you guest?

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Melaka A Famosa Panoramic view by Jan.

While Many of neighboring country falling their target for 2008, Melaka shoot to beat the targeted 6.8 million tourist arrival for 2008. Melaka had incoming 7.2 million tourist last year with 84% of it from domestic visitors or 6 million and remaining 14% or 1.2 million from foreign tourist. Thanks to Singaporeans people for spending at Melaka and they were largest foreign visitors came to Melaka making 19.3% of the Pie. China, while so far away compared to Indonesia, is the 2nd with 17% followed by Indonesia (9.4%) , Hong Kong (4.4%) and Saudi Arabia (4.3%).

Excerpts from Melaka Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hj. Mohd Ali Rustam recently in The Star news about Melaka Tourism:

‘….new attractions such as the Malacca River boat cruise, Menara Taming Sari and Eye On Malaysia were among the factors that helped the state maintain its high number of tourists.

“We hope to attract more visitors this year with the addition of several new attractions,” he said, adding that the state aimed to attract eight million visitors by 2010.

Among the attractions were a water screen and aerospace dome next to the Eye On Malaysia to be ready by April and a monorail and roller coaster in Taman Rempah set for completion in September, he said.

He added that Mydin Hypermarket and Jusco Shopping Mall, scheduled for completion in April and December respectively, would also help lure visitors.’

Target for Melaka tourist arrival in 2009 is slightly higher that is 7.4 million. With 2008 figure was 7.2, 7.4 for 2009 will be not to hard to achieve.

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Jammed pack with tourist!..

Melaka won’t stop promoting although the count down to 2009 are just few days ahead. From early December to the end, the state government with ‘Jom Ke Melaka’ (Come! Let’s Go to Melaka) programmed aim to boost domestic tourist arrival. ‘Jom Ke Melaka’ is a road show starting from Ipoh, Kota Bharu, Labuan, Kuala Terengganu and Seremban target to updated the domestic tourist about latest Melaka tourism products. Also this week, starting from 22nd until 24th Dec, The 9th Convention of Malay & Islamic World – ‘Dunia Melayu Dunia Islam (DMDI)’ also taken place at Holiday Inn. For this convention I’m the secretary for the Tourism Bureau, DMDI. More than 1200 participant came from over 13 countries such as Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Brunei, Cape Town and Madagascar.

With Melaka as a host for National Christmas Open House at the Portuguese Settlement, you can imagine the traffic in Melaka for this whole week!. As Melaka now has already got 5,858,585 tourist arrival in the account till November, with all this Domestic and International Event making the way this month (December), I’m optimist now we already achieve the 6.8 million target. In this December alone, we estimate more than 1 million tourist visiting Melaka. School holiday really being helpful in boosting the figure.

Melaka is consider as Super Peak Season when November and December come. All hotel and resort are fully occupied. Sorry, no last minute booking when coming to Melaka this season. If compare to last year tourist arrival till November, this year has already top up 11.34% from last year 5,261,833. With the slow growth of world economy, Melaka is harvesting more on the service sector and the crop are mainly come from the tourism industry. It’s 65% of Melaka GDP. Well, can’t wait for January to count the whole 2008 figure!.

$3.2 Billion RM this year!

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Global scenarios that affect tourist arrival in Malaysia..

There is a new trend now that Terrorist tend to strike on famous tourism places. Latest is at Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai India. We know that terrorism is the most big threat to the industry since 9/11 tragedy. Before that, among famous Island in the world, Bali has been bombed by terrorist. Now every continent have their own terrorist threat from America to Africa, up to the Arab country, India and South East Asia region.

At South East where Malaysia is located, it’s neighbored to the Bali Bombing country Indonesia and Thailand with it’s Southern Militant massacre that kills many civilians just cross the Malaysian border at the north. That make only Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei till now free from any terrorist attack or activities. As neighboring country facing problem like terrorism & internal war, we also feel worried that Global tourist might feel that the whole area is unsafe for them. As now the terrorist targeted tourist destination like hotel and public restaurant, surely you don’t want situation like extra caution when sleeping at hotel or not eating at famous restaurant fear to be blown up or being shoot blindly.

In certain country like Thailand, Bali and Egypt, tourist arrival are vital to their economic growth. This is because the service industry in that particular country are invested heavily. They have many resort at island, coastal area, transportation service and other hospitality industry. This bring many jobs opportunity to the people. They work at the resort, as taxi driver, as a crew in luxury cruise, massage parlor and restaurant. Places such as Thailand,Bali and Egypt for example, are attracting global top spenders such as United States Tourist and from many European country. We know that this country have big buying power with their strong currency. The locals will enjoy the opportunity as the big spenders think that things in that particular places are very cheap and they can get many things.

International tourism top spenders..

So when terror, war or disaster attacks, tourist arrival will decline and of course the impact on economy that rely in this industry are high. As one economic terms ‘One person’s spending has become another person’s income’. Maybe one of the cause that terrorist don’t reside in country such as Malaysia or Singapore apart from political stability are Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei are not a major tourist destination. Major tourist destination in terms of this global big spenders like United States, Germany and United Kingdom.

Malaysia top 3 markets or inbound tourist are number 1: Singapore, second place is Indonesia and third goes to Thailand. So this make Malaysia just attracted to our neighbor and because they are not very top spender except for Singapore with Indonesia currency for example is much lower than Malaysia, make the tourism industry here in term of economy not to fruitful compared to Thailand.

Malaysia Top 10 Tourist Market

We see in CNN, BBC and Al-Jazeera when terror attacks Mumbai, they seek for British and U.S tourist to take as a hostage. Also in Bali Bombing, they bombarded place with many European tourist. We don’t know why this terrorist that also a locals, are very motivated to make a chaos in their own country in killing foreign tourist that in the end will affect their own economy.

As Malaysia or Malacca trying to focus on bigger tourism market such as from Europe and U.S, government should concern on this terrorist group as they just live next door…

“The people who survived the disaster here need money. If tourists do not come back soon, they will face another disaster – this time a financial one.” Giovanni Romchi, 2005 [referring to the 26 Dec 2004 tsunami]

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Everyone in the world know what is happen to economy now. The world financial and economic crisis. As we browse through news paper and online report, many develop countries are moving into a downturn with banks collapsed and stock market fall below value. But I as a normal person live in a developing country – Malaysia, does not really feel the impact. Of course if we ask people in Palestine, Iraq or Kabul they will say every year are the same for them, whether the world economy are booming in profit or bankrupt, they have not seen their country bank notes more than 10 years ago , even Banks have been bombed in their place. Have already use to it, small matter they said.

Now Malaysian government also reducing the fuel price and certain large retail store like Tesco is reducing their prices of goods. As of me, salary will be up every year and with the reducing of the prices of goods and fuel, not much the feeling of economic crisis impact. Of course as long as you maintain your normal expenditure. That’s for a government servant, but for a businessman, maybe the answer will be different.

So how about the tourism industry? Surely traveling will involve money and expenses. Travelers buy flight tickets, pay for hotel room, rent a car and dine. Tourist who spending their money at the place they go with average of stay more than 1 night are quality tourist. When they spend their money everyone that involve in the industry will benefit from it. So can we expect a thrifty tourist that is not sleep in a hotel but bringing a tent everywhere and cooked using a camping stoves?.

Quality tourist that spend a lot usually came from the western country. Because of they work hard in a capitalist nation, they will seek a holiday to spend their hard earn money. But now the stock are in bearish trend with cut in company expenses everywhere. As a result they are not so rich anymore.

So will the European and American market will affect Melaka or Malaysia tourism industry? I think not too much impact because luckily they are not our main market. Refer the table below:

Top ten countries visiting Melaka & Malaysia 2007

Why the rich European and American does not considering Melaka as their first priority when thinking of vacation? This is because when you are rich and have a mountain stockpile of cash, you will think Paris, Caribbean, Rome, Dubai and relax at the open sea with luxurious cruise liner. In other hand, Singaporeans thinks that Malaysia is a country with an affordable price plus their value of buying will be high because of the currency rate. So they will kept continuously coming in to Malaysia for shopping and vacation. For example Malaysia fuel price is like triple cheaper than Singapore, so they will not miss the opportunity to fill their tank in this country.

But for Indonesian, they come to Melaka not because of the affordable price. This is because Malaysian currency is higher than Indonesia. The main objectives for them are to use the facilities and technologies here the facilities here are among the latest but still affordable compared to other South East Asian country like Singapore and Thailand. Most of them will use the Medical facilities. With the ease of communication (Indonesia and Malaysia use the same language) and easy access to Melaka (by Air and Sea), Melaka will be their number one choice unless their government can provide good and affordable facilities in their country. Surprisingly, some of rich Indonesian said that branded item in Malaysia are far more cheaper in Jakarta. I see with my own eye they shop till like there is no tomorrow here on item like shoes and hand bag.

Rationally, when we have lest to spend but still want to enjoy and take a vacation at the end of the year, we will go to a country that our value of buying is high. So Malaysian will consider to travel abroad to country such As Indonesia, Myanmar or Thailand. With Air Asia our famous budget Airlines is cutting their flight tickets due to encourage people using air planes, this will make travel to places like Medan in Indonesia is cheaper than traveling in our own states like Sabah if compared to normal flight rate using Malaysia Airlines System.

Melaka still projected 6.8 million tourist arrival in 2008 despite of the slow economy. But maybe the the rich European people will cut their travel expenses by visiting the 3rd world countries and Malaysia will benefit form it and can surpass the last year 49.6 billion revenue from this industry? We just wait and see.

TOURIST ARRIVAL & REVENUE OF THE TOURISTM INDUSTRY (Malaysia)

In the mean time you can visit this page to know how rich you are compared to the people around the globe. You might find you are not that poor!

Global Rich List, rate your self!…

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World Economic Forum (WEF) has released World Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2008 on March. Switzerland still rank number one for the conducive environments for developing the travel & tourism industry.Austria and Germany both rank 2nd & 3rd place same like 2007 competitiveness report. Out of the list from 2007 top 10 are Iceland, Hong Kong, Singapore and Luxembourg. Here are the top 10:

1)Switzerland
2)Austria
3)Germany
4)Australia
5)Spain
6)United Kingdom
7)United States
8)Sweden
9)Canada
10)France

For the complete list please check here.

Balancing Economic Development and Environmental Sustainability is 2008 theme for the report. Based on last year report, Malaysia drop one point from 31 in 2007 to 32 this year. From rank 1 to 32 (Malaysia), the only ASEAN country are Singapore (Rank 16) and Malaysia. Visit the WEF tourism report site to download the report.

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Tourist Arrivals report are back! From January to August 2008, total of 4.6 million tourist has visited Melaka. Domestic tourist make the larger pie with 3.7 million (80%) visitors rather than 892,000 foreign tourist (20%). Compared to 2007 Jan – Aug tourist arrival, this year Melaka got an increased about 887,252 tourist or 23.7% flowing in. Below are the top 5 country that visited Melaka last 8 month:

1-SINGAPORE : 14,839 (7.9%)

2-CHINA : 13,591 (7.2%)

3-INDONESIA : 7,549 (4.0%)

4-SAUDI ARABIA : 6,905 (3.7%)

5-HONG KONG : 5,518 (2.9%)

Average rate for hotel accommodation and length of night stay for the month of August decreasing respectively. Average of hotel accommodation down to 47.47% from 58.98% in July and length of night stay down to 1.65 night from 1.76 night in July.

This year the state government target 6.8 million tourist to visit Melaka. With current rate of tourist and just about 2 month till end of this year, it will be a hard work. Download the sheet below for more data on domestic and international tourist visited Melaka from January to August 2008.

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About 1.9 million tourist visiting Melaka between Jun and April 2008. From the 1.9 million, 1.5 million are local / national tourist. In April 2008, China were the biggest market with 23,413 people (28.0% pie) followed by Singapore 12,476 people, Indonesia : 8,901 people (10.6%), India 4,036 people (4.8%) and Vietnam : 3,163 people (3.8%) with 1.8 days night stay rate. State Government are confident to target 6.8 million tourist come to Melaka in 2008 as many big event will happen this upcoming month till December.Event like Fiesta San Pedro, Melaka International Tourism Show (MITS),Batik & Songket Festival are said to make it happen.

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