@Halal May/June 2023 | Page 6

Malaysia aims to be the top destination for Muslim travellers
06

Local News

@ Halal | MAY-JUNE . 2023

Attracting

Middle Eastern tourists

Malaysia aims to be the top destination for Muslim travellers

TOURISM Malaysia ’ s efforts to publicise its comprehensive promotional activities continued to the Middle Eastern region . Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan , Deputy Minister of Tourism , Arts & Culture Malaysia ( MOTAC ), led the Malaysian delegation to participate once again in the Arabian Travel Market ( ATM ) in Dubai from May 1-4 , 2023 at Dubai World Trade Centre ( DWTC ).

The four-day ATM offered Malaysia an excellent platform to market and promote the latest attractions and destinations for shopping , family fun , eco-adventure , honeymoon , luxury holidays , and safe travel destinations . ATM 2023 also marked the 29th anniversary of Malaysia ’ s participation in this prestigious event , which is a strong testimony to the country ’ s support of the event and its commitment to attracting more Middle Eastern tourists to Malaysia .
As in previous years , this prestigious annual event saw the participation of a Malaysian delegation from 76 organisations comprising hotels and resorts , travel agents , tourism products owners , representatives from various state governments , including Langkawi Development Authority ( LADA ), Penang Global Tourism , Sabah Tourism Board , Sarawak Tourism Board , Tourism Melaka , Tourism Pahang , and Tourism Johor .
The mission aimed to reinstate and enhance the commitment to establishing good tourism cooperation , engaging in future collaborations , and cooperation with the travel and tourism industry in the region .
Khairul Firdaus said during the launch : “ In line with Visit Malaysia in 2025 , Tourism Malaysia will strive to attract more tourists from the Middle East to Malaysia . We are confident that we will achieve our target to put Malaysia as the top destination for Muslim travellers .”
Throughout the event , the Malaysian delegation is scheduled to meet up with the top management of a few Middle Eastern airlines , such as Qatar Airways , Emirates , Etihad Airways , Saudia Airlines , Air Arabia , Oman Air and Salam Air , to discuss future collaborations , besides having several interviews with the local media .
Khairul Firdaus would also witness the signing of two Memoranda of Collaboration ( MOC ) between Tourism Malaysia and Saudia Airlines and Tourism Malaysia with Air Arabia . This MOC will benefit the Malaysian economy and strengthen economic ties through the tourism industry between Malaysia , the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , and the United Arab Emirates .
Official launch of Malaysia Pavilion at ATM Dubai 2023 .
Since its full reopening of international borders , Malaysia has recorded 10,070,964 tourist arrivals and RM28.2 billion in tourist receipts in 2022 , surpassing its initial target of 9.2 million international tourist arrivals . In 2023 , Malaysia is targeting to welcome 16.1 million international tourist arrivals ( 300,000 tourists from West Asia ) and generate RM49.2 billion tourist receipts .
In 2022 , Malaysia recorded 88,534 tourist arrivals from the Middle East . –

Unravelling investment risks in times of uncertainty

THE Malaysian Financial Planning Council ( MFPC ) successfully organised the 10th Shariah Wealth Management E-Conference themed “ Global Recession Fears : Challenges and Opportunities in Wealth Management ”.
The virtual event brought together over 800 participants who included financial planners , wealth advisors , wealth managers , bankers , unit trust agents , remisiers , insurance and takaful agents , and academicians .
The conference featured sessions on managing investment risks in times of uncertainty , covering topics such as ‘ Guide to Markets for Investors ’, ‘ Business Owner Dilemmas During Recession Fears ’, and ‘ Portfolio Diversification with Cryptocurrencies and Digital Assets ’.
The conference also included a roundtable discussion on challenges and opportunities during recessions aimed at equipping financial professionals with strategies to manage new economic impacts effectively .
Experts from industry-leading companies such as Saturna Sdn Bhd , MicroLEAP , Ethis Group , Association of Shariah Advisors in Islamic Finance ( ASAS ) and SINEGY shared their knowledge and experience with participants while Al-Huda CIBE Dubai , United Arab Emirates collaborated as a media partner .
The conference received support from industry leaders , including Kenanga Investors Berhad , AIA PUBLIC Takaful Bhd ., TSI Wealth Planners , and Principal Financial Asset Management Bhd .
“ Shariah Wealth Management is gaining a lot of attention and popularity in the marketplace . As one of MFPC ’ s strategic pillars is ensuring community financial well-being , we want as many Malaysians to understand that a ringgit on hand today is worth more than a dollar promised in the future ,” Vincent Kwo Shih Kang , the president of MFPC , stated in his opening speech .
MFPC remains committed to organising events promoting knowledge sharing and best practices in the Shariah wealth management industry and looks forward to hosting more events to continue advancing the industry . –

Promoting Malaysia ’ s tourism to GCC countries

TOURISM Malaysia spearheaded a tourism sales mission to Bahrain and Kuwait to capitalise on the continuing growth of the Gulf Cooperation Council ( GCC ) countries ’ outbound sector from May 7-9 , 2023 .
The delegation led by Mr Manoharan Periasamy , Senior Director of International Promotion Division ( Asia / Africa ), Tourism Malaysia , visited Manama and Kuwait City to promote Malaysia as a top-of-themind
tourist destination region .
The objectives of the sales mission are to strengthen Malaysia ’ s presence in the market , particularly to develop and promote Malaysia as a preferred holiday destination to GCC tourists and update the travel trade industry about new tourism products , packages , and attractions .
The Malaysian delegation comprised 14 organisations , a good mix of hotels and resorts , travel agents , associations , and representatives
from State tourism boards . For the Malaysian private sector participants in the mission , it is an ideal platform to enhance networking with their GCC counterparts .
Other sales mission activities included meetings with Gulf Air , Kuwait Airways , top travel agents , a courtesy call to the High Commissioner of Malaysia to Bahrain and Kuwait , and appointments with key Bahrain and Kuwait tourism industry players . –