Following a successful Press Conference at the Arabian Travel Market 2021, Tourism Malaysia held a special dinner at Palazzo Versace Dubai for select VIPs, guests, and UAE travel trade partners, to highlight the future of Malaysia’s tourism industry and the various plans it has in place to regain its glory in a post-Covid world.
The special dinner was hosted by the Ambassador of Malaysia to the United Arab Emirates, H.E Mohd Tarid Bin Sufian. Also present at the gathering was Mr. Mohd Hasril Abdul Hamid, Consul General of Malaysia in Dubai, and Mr. Shahrin Mokhtar, Director of Tourism Malaysia – Dubai. Leading Malaysia tourism partners from the GCC such as Emirates Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Royal Brunei Airlines were in attendance on the night, along with agencies helping to bring travellers from the MENA region to Malaysia, namely Al Rais Travel, Dnata Travel, Orient Travels, and WEGO. EXPO 2020 organizers were also represented.
In December 2020, Malaysian Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, highlighted the importance of recovery, connections, and sustainability as the core values to be embraced as the country takes delicate steps to return back to normal. These same values were revisited and highlighted at the Gala Dinner as Tourism Malaysia lays down the plans to once again be at the forefront of Asian travel destinations once Malaysia opens its borders for tourists, showcasing that Malaysia is ‘Truly Asia’.
H.E Ambassador of Malaysia to the United Arab Emirates, MOHD TARID BIN SUFIAN says, “We cannot wait and are ever ready to welcome travellers from the Middle East to the shores of Malaysia once the border opens, as Malaysia misses you. To revive and rejuvenate our tourism industry, our National Tourism Policy highlights transformational strategies namely: strengthen governance, create special tourism investment zones, embrace smart tourism, enhance demand sophistication, practice sustainable and responsible tourism, and upskill human capital.”
Malaysia hopes to continue reinforcing and expanding its strong bilateral relations with the United Arab Emirates. In line with this, Malaysia will also be participating at the Expo 2020 with a special pavilion themed “Energising Sustainability”. The country’s overall participation at Expo 2020 Dubai is led by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation with Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre as implementing agency.
Tourism Malaysia will be presenting throughout the duration of the Arabian Travel Market 2021 at the Dubai World Trade Center from Sunday, May 16 to Wednesday, May 19, and virtually from Monday, May 24 to Wednesday, May 26.