Tourism sector needs new ideas to thrive

13 November, London – “Name your price” tours may soon catch on in Malaysia as one of the innovative measures to boost the tourism industry.

“I think this would be an innovative approach as creativity is the key element for success,” said Tourism Minister YB Dato’ Sri Azalina Othman Said to Malaysian journalists after opening the Malaysia Pavilion at the World Travel Market at Excel London yesterday.

She said the world economic problems had given rise to innovative measures and every company could do a lot to be creative but must stay focused on profit-making businesses. On whether the concept which included free city tours would be practical for Malaysia, she said it was up to the private sector as the Government could only act as a facilitator.

Azalina was responding to a report by Euromonitor International that customers would be naming their own price or expecting to have for gratis a major slice of the product or service, as they weighed up their getaway options during these squeezed market times.

A total of 113 participants including Langkawi Geopark, Selangor, Terengganu, Tourism Perak, Penang Tourism and Sabah took part in the exhibition – the main pavilion featuring an eco-tourism village longhouse.

Azalina said the ministry would focus on budget travellers and that it was untrue people would not travel during trying times.

She said the number of British tourists to Malaysia rose by 36.1% to 303,569 during the first 10 months of this year.