Published: Saturday October 3, 2009 MYT 11:51:00 AM
Malaysia to focus on island wedding packages
MOSCOW(RUSSIA): Malaysia will give more focus on promoting island wedding packages as a new tourism product to attract tourists from target markets, including Russia, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.
Although a new idea, she said the ministry believed that such packages had good potential.
“I am going back (to Malaysia) and will call wedding planners and see how we can create these packages,” she told Malaysian reporters at the end of a four-day sales mission to Russia.
During a news conference with the Russian media, Dr Ng was asked if any of the Malaysian islands could be rented for special functions such as weddings.
“As there is such a question, I believe that the Russians can afford to have weddings on rented islands,” she said. Malaysia has 1,700 islands, with Langkawi, one of the popular holiday destinations among Russians, having approximately 100 islands.
The wedding bells for Russians usually ring during summer which is around July, and fall, which is between late August and early December.
Dr Ng said that to entice specific target tourists, well developed packages must be put in place. It was therefore important for industry players to understand their customers’ interests and needs, she said. “It is time for hotels to rethink their packages, to be more creative and create appropriate activities for their customers to ensure they are not bored, and stay longer in the country,” she said. Dr Ng said feedback from Russian tour operators indicated that some hotels and holiday destinations in Malaysia, such as Langkawi, were too quiet with no activities at night.
To deal with the issue, Dr Ng said, more programmes would be carried out with tour operators and hoteliers to address the needs of Russian tourists, similar to what had been done in addressing the needs of Chinese tourists.
On another note Dr Ng, who is MCA vice-president, conveyed her condolences to the peoples of Padang, Indonesia and South Pacific, who were hit by disasters which claimed the lives of thousands.
“I urge Malaysians travelling abroad to protect themselves through insurance coverage because we never know what will happen,” she said. -- Bernama
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