TOURISM MALAYSIA KICKS OFF ITS 2023 SALES MISSION TO THE PHILIPPINES

MANILA, 23 May 2023 – Aiming to lure a greater number of tourists from the Philippines
to revisit Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia has conducted its first Sales Mission to Manila and
Davao this year from 20th to 28th May 2023. The programme also targets to boost
inbound tourism to Malaysia by highlighting on niche segments such as those from the
Family, MICE, Health Care and Medical Tourism, Education, and for the Digital Nomads.

Led by Dato’ Dr. Ammar Bin Abd. Ghapar, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, the
delegation comprises 19 organisations, including Melaka Tourism, Malaysia Healthcare
Travel Council (MHTC), Selama District Council of Perak, Malaysia My Second Home
(MM2H) agency, as well as other industry players and product owners.

Highlighted also through the event are the upcoming “Visit Melaka” and the “Visit Perak
Year 2024” whereby the following Malaysian states were given the stage to feature the
unique culture and experience tourists may also expect that their states has to offer; this
is also to pave way and create the momentum for the upcoming Visit Malaysia Year 2025
wherein Malaysia is projecting to have 23.5m international tourists and RM76.8b in
receipts.

The Malaysian sellers and Filipino buyers are gathered through business sessions and
gala dinners in both cities, apart from two seminars conducted at the Dusit Thani Hotel,
Makati City and Dusit Thani D2 Davao, Davao City respectively, focusing on leisure,
shopping, and the niche tourism markets.

“The Philippines has always been the top 10 source market for international travel to
Malaysia. Our challenge is to move forward after the pandemic and to work together to
create a seamless and unforgettable experience for tourists when they visit ASEAN as a
single yet multifarious travel destination,” says Dato’ Dr. Ammar.

In 2022, more than 159,442 tourists from the Philippines visited Malaysia, and Tourism
Malaysia aims to continuously increase this number in the coming through the new
www.tourism.gov.my FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 39/2023
segments featured in the sales mission. There are currently 64 flights per week from
Manila to Malaysia via Malaysia Airlines, Philippines Airlines, AirAsia and Cebu Pacific.