22nd March, 2013
Malaysians ride to Europe on weak Euro.
ESCORTED tours to Europe are seeing healthy growth in demand
from the Malaysian market, partly due to the depreciation of the euro and US
dollar against the Ringgit.
Insight Vacations reported a 25 per cent year-on-year spike
in bookings for Europe for the January to March 2013 period. Insight Vacations
regional director, Asia, Sheryl Lim, said: “When the euro and US dollar were
strong against the ringgit, an eight- to 10-day tour to Europe would cost about
RM10,000 (US$3,207). Now, one can take a 12- to 14-day tour at the same cost.”
According to Lim, popular destinations are Italy, Britain,
and a combination of Spain and Portugal. Mature Malaysian travellers are now
eyeing Eastern Europe destinations such Croatia and Poland. Destinations such
as the Balkans, which were less popular in the past, have also seen a five to
eight per cent year-on-year increase in the first quarter of 2013, and this
upward trend is expected to continue through to 2014.
Likewise, Sedunia Travel’s marketing & community manager,
e-commerce division, Hannah Pearson, said her company’s upcoming Cosmos
multi-destination holidays for the summer season to eastern European cities of
Prague, Vienna and Budapest had been well received by the Malaysian public.
Also hot were eight-day itineraries combining Belgium, Germany, Switzerland,
Italy and France.
By: S Puvaneswary, Kuala Lumpur
Copyright@TTG Asia Media Pte Ltd © 2013
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