AirAsia, Tourism Malaysia team up to promote tourism

Memorandum of agreement signing between AirAsia and Tourism Malaysia in Shanghai to jointly promote Malaysia:​​​ (from left excluding the air hostesses)​​​​​​​​ Tourism Malaysia deputy director general (promotion) Datuk Seri Abdul Khani Daud​​, Tourism & Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, AirAsia Bhd head of commercial Spencer Lee​​, AirAsia group head of sales Rayner Teo Kheng Hock.

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Bhd and Tourism Malaysia are teaming up to attract tourists to Malaysia under a two-year agreement.

In a statement, the low-cost airline said they would focus on developing activities to promote the country to all 10 Asean countries, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Australia and New Zealand.

The agreement will include efforts in terms of brand advertising, promotional activities and campaigns; familiarisation trip for consumer, trade, media, travel agencies to Malaysia; synergy in planning between tourism development and air transportation to provide better connectivity; market intelligence sharing and assistance for developing the tourism sector; and joint roadshows between both parties to market Malaysia to trade partners.

In conjunction with this partnership, AirAsia is offering a 5% special discount on top of all existing promotions exclusively for UnionPay cardholders.

This discount is available for booking starting now until July 4, 2017, with travel period from May 5, 2017, to June 5 2018.

AirAsia and Tourism Malaysia signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the partnership on Wednesday in Shanghai.

Tourism Malaysia was represented by its deputy director general (promotion) Datuk Seri Abdul Khani Daud and AirAsia Bhd by its head of commercial Spencer Lee.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, who was in Shanghai to lead Malaysia’s participation at the inaugural ITB China travel trade fair at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre.

“Connectivity is the heart of tourism, and this partnership between Tourism Malaysia and AirAsia will combine our marketing efforts, resulting in a stronger awareness and branding for Malaysia as a tourist destination,” Abdul Khani said.

“We look forward to stronger customer demand and confidence in Malaysia as an ideal holiday destination.”
 
Lee said AirAsia looked forward to work closely with Tourism Malaysia to provide travellers with better connectivity into and within Malaysia while allowing them to travel from one destination to another seamlessly.
 
“Through this partnership, we aim to generate wide awareness and publicity on Malaysia as a preferred leisure and business destination, and boost the country’s tourist arrivals and receipts. This effort is in line with the national objectives, as seen through the newly implemented e-visa entry for China and India, making tourist entry into Malaysia easier and convenient,” he said.

It has been reported that the Tourism and Culture Ministry faced financial constraints, with its advertising and promotion budget being slashed year after year over the last few years. The budget last year was RM167mil, down about 40% from 2012.

In April, Parliament passed a bill to introduce a tourism tax, which is expected to provide a sustainable fund every year to develop the tourism industry.