Tour operators diversify markets amid war threat
Tour operators diversify markets amid war threat
Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur
Southeast Asian tour operators are diversifying their markets with offers to exotic destinations like Mongolia and Indochina to cushion the blow of a war in Iraq, an industry group said Thursday.
Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Tunku Iskandar Tunku Abdullah said war jitters have led to a shift from long-haul travel to shorter flights to Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
But he said the industry was more prepared now than it was during the 1991 Gulf war which led to a slump of more than a year. Tour operators have also become more innovative after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
"The effect is quite small at the moment," he told a news conference.
"After September 11, I think Southeast Asian tourism players are quite resilient now. We know more what to do, we know how to diversify our markets. We know how to look for new destinations."
He earlier announced that some 250 Malaysian tour and travel agents would offer cheap tickets and promotional packages at a three-day MATTA international travel fair starting Friday.
Despite the looming war, MATTA projected a sales turnover of over 150 million ringgit (US$66 million), up from 110 million recorded during the previous travel fair in October.
Nearly half of the turnover is expected to come from Malaysia Airlines, which projected sales of up to 75 million ringgit on tickets being offered at discounts of between 35 and 50 percent.
Tunku Iskandar said MATTA could achieve its target as sales in previous fairs after the Sept. 11 tragedy and the bombing in the Indonesian island resort of Bali last year had surpassed its expectations.
MATTA expects some 100,000 visitors to the fair, which is held twice a year during the traditional low-peak seasons in March and October to boost tourism, the country's second largest foreign exchange earner.
Organizing chairman Ronald Chan said this year's fair focused more on travel to untapped destinations such as Mongolia, Indochina, South Korea and Nepal.
To encourage people to travel, he said some "proactive" companies at the fair would offer full refunds for travelers who cancel their tours if war breaks out.
Sixteen state-owned tourism boards including those from Australia, China, Dubai, Egypt, Luxembourg, India, Japan and New Zealand are taking part, as well as airlines and hotels.