Date: 5 March 2013
Malaysia tops Asean tourist arrivals from 2007 to 2011.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia received more tourists than any other
Asean nation between 2007 and 2011, according to a new Institute of Chartered
Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) report.
Over half came from Singapore, helping drive economic growth
and Malaysia’s foreign exchange earnings. According to the report, three
quarters of the tourists to Malaysia were from within Asean, with over 70 per
cent of them coming from Singapore, thanks to close family and business ties.
Meanwhile, between 2007 and 2011, tourist arrivals from
outside the region grew by 28.6 per cent, bringing an influx of tourist dollars
to countries like Vietnam and Singapore.
Intra-regional travel grew even more for some nations,
rising by 34.5 per cent. However, Singaporeans and Malaysians made up nearly
two-thirds of intra-Asean tourists in 2011, mostly to each other for short
trips. The increased wealth of countries like Indonesia also increased visitor
numbers to Vietnam, as well as newer destinations like Laos.
ICAEW Economic Advisor and Centre for Economics and Business
Research(Cebr’s) Executive Chairman, Douglas McWilliams, said:" One
success story for the region is tourism, a major industry for South East Asia.
Tourism is not just a major employer but also provides substantial foreign
currency earnings, so the rise is a boost to the region’s economies."
He also said a big boost actually came from intra-regional
travel, including business travel, which had grown by over a third in the last
four years, suggesting significant economic development. - BERNAMA
Copyright @ 2011 The New Straits Times Press (Malaysia)
Berhad
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