Tour operators diversify markets amid war threat<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
Southeast Asian tour operators are diversifying their markets
\nwith offers to exotic destinations like Mongolia and Indochina to
\ncushion the blow of a war in Iraq, an industry group said
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA)
\npresident Tunku Iskandar Tunku Abdullah said war jitters have led
\nto a shift from long-haul travel to shorter flights to Asia,
\nAustralia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n
But he said the industry was more prepared now than it was
\nduring the 1991 Gulf war which led to a slump of more than a
\nyear. Tour operators have also become more innovative after the
\nSept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.<\/p>\n
"The effect is quite small at the moment," he told a news
\nconference.<\/p>\n
"After September 11, I think Southeast Asian tourism players
\nare quite resilient now. We know more what to do, we know how to
\ndiversify our markets. We know how to look for new destinations."<\/p>\n
He earlier announced that some 250 Malaysian tour and travel
\nagents would offer cheap tickets and promotional packages at a
\nthree-day MATTA international travel fair starting Friday.<\/p>\n
Despite the looming war, MATTA projected a sales turnover of
\nover 150 million ringgit (US$66 million), up from 110 million
\nrecorded during the previous travel fair in October.<\/p>\n
Nearly half of the turnover is expected to come from Malaysia
\nAirlines, which projected sales of up to 75 million ringgit on
\ntickets being offered at discounts of between 35 and 50 percent.<\/p>\n
Tunku Iskandar said MATTA could achieve its target as sales in
\nprevious fairs after the Sept. 11 tragedy and the bombing in the
\nIndonesian island resort of Bali last year had surpassed its
\nexpectations.<\/p>\n
MATTA expects some 100,000 visitors to the fair, which is held
\ntwice a year during the traditional low-peak seasons in March and
\nOctober to boost tourism, the country's second largest foreign
\nexchange earner.<\/p>\n
Organizing chairman Ronald Chan said this year's fair focused
\nmore on travel to untapped destinations such as Mongolia,
\nIndochina, South Korea and Nepal.<\/p>\n
To encourage people to travel, he said some "proactive"
\ncompanies at the fair would offer full refunds for travelers who
\ncancel their tours if war breaks out.<\/p>\n
Sixteen state-owned tourism boards including those from
\nAustralia, China, Dubai, Egypt, Luxembourg, India, Japan and New
\nZealand are taking part, as well as airlines and hotels.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tour-operators-diversify-markets-amid-war-threat-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}