Published: Monday May 10, 2010 MYT 5:52:00 PM

M’sia seeks to lure Arab women tourists

By R.S.N. MURALI

KUWAIT CITY: Malaysia wants to lure more Arab women to visit the country and is creating tourism products to cater exclusively to their needs, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

Dr Ng said that feedback from leading tour operators, whom she had met earlier, showed that well-heeled Kuwaiti women frequently made overseas trips.

“We have tagged this new package as Ladies Tour where these tourists can look forward to an array activities and shopping in Malaysia,” Dr Ng said.

She said this in her speech at the Malaysian Gala Dinner that was attended by several prominent Kuwaitis, local tour operators and Malaysian hoteliers at a hotel here on Sunday night.

Dr Ng said based on feedback, Kuwaiti women tended to spend a fortune on beauty products and grooming.

“We will handpick several beauticians and spa operators to provide dedicated service to them once they are in Malaysia,” she said.

She added that the package would be designed to attract women who were now flocking London and Paris for the same reason.

Dr Ng described her two days tour here as very successful trip and was optimistic that the arrival of tourists from Kuwait would increase significantly.

“I have met industrial captains during my brief visit and have received their pledges to help Malaysia to witness an increase of tourists to our country,” she said.

Dr Ng said Malaysia received 22,200 Kuwaiti tourists in 2009. Her ministry has set a target of 25,000 arrivals for this year.

In Dubai, the Tourism Minister who led the Malaysian delegation at Arabian Tour Market (ATM) 2010 from May 4 May 7, introduced the Ramadan Holiday Package that encouraged Muslims from the Middle East to spend their fasting month this year in Malaysia as an introduction to what a multi-cultural nation could offer during the holy month.

Undersecretary of Kuwait Minister of Commerce and Industry, Rashead Al-Sayed Al-Tabtabee and Ambassador of Senegal, Abdou Lahad Mbacke were among the dignitaries who attended the dinner.

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