PUTRAJAYA, July 28 – Tourism Malaysia recently organized two exciting familiarization trips, known as FAM Trips, for travel agents from Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These trips aimed to showcase Malaysia’s vibrant cities and captivating attractions, allowing the travel agents to experience the country’s unique offerings firsthand. The initiative also aimed to enhance their product knowledge and promote Malaysia’s natural wonders to their respective markets.
In collaboration with Air Arabia, the first FAM Trip brought a group of 17 travel agents from Iran to Kuala Lumpur via Sharjah in the UAE. The participants had the opportunity to explore various tourism hotspots, including KLCC, KL Tower, Istana Negara, Merdeka Square, Central Market, and Batu Caves. They also indulged in the luxurious amenities of the Lexis Hibiscus in Port Dickson, a renowned 5-star beach resort. Additionally, the agents enjoyed the scenic beauty of Putrajaya and engaged in a range of exciting indoor and outdoor activities at Resorts World Genting.
The second FAM Trip involved nine travel agents from the UAE, including representatives from Air Arabia. Departing from Sharjah, they embarked on a journey to Kuala Lumpur. The agents experienced thrilling water sports activities at Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson and explored the vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur. Furthermore, they had the opportunity to immerse themselves in the all-new Genting Skyworlds and Sunway Lagoon, creating unforgettable memories from June 5th to 10th, 2023.
Dato’ Dr Ammar Abd. Ghapar, Director-General of Tourism Malaysia, expressed his enthusiasm about Malaysia’s tourism promotion in the Middle Eastern market. He highlighted the agency’s active participation in the latest edition of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023 in May and emphasized the importance of strengthening ties with travel agents from the region. Dr. Ammar further stated, “We hope the participating travel agents in this FAM Trip will fervently support us in selling tour packages to their respective markets, promoting Malaysia as a safe, value-for-money, and preferred holiday destination.”
The FAM Trips align with Tourism Malaysia’s strategy to attract more tourists from Iran and the UAE. While last year’s tourist arrivals from these countries stood at 7,570 and 3,230 respectively, representing a decline due to the pandemic, efforts are being made to revive the numbers. In 1999, before the pandemic, Malaysia welcomed 46,559 visitors from Iran and 11,174 from the UAE. To facilitate travel, Air Arabia currently operates three weekly direct flights from Sharjah to Kuala Lumpur, providing a total seating capacity of 1,944.
By organizing these FAM Trips and fostering closer collaborations with travel agents, Tourism Malaysia aims to boost visitor numbers from Iran and the UAE, showcasing Malaysia’s diverse attractions, rich culture, and exceptional hospitality. The country looks forward to welcoming more tourists from these markets, further solidifying its position as a premier holiday destination.
