Shopping is Poised to Overtake Hotel Accommodation as the Biggest Share of Tourism Spending in 2 Years' Time.

ECONOMIC BOON: It's set to overtake hotel accommodation as biggest share of tourism spending

KUALA LUMPUR: SHOPPING is poised to overtake hotel accommodation as the biggest share of tourism spending in two years' time.

Malaysian Shopping Malls Association president H.C. Chan said this was evident from the fact that Malaysia was increasingly becoming the choice destination for tourists, compared with Hong Kong and Singapore.

"Shopping posted 26 per cent of the tourism spending, compared with 32 per cent for hotel accommodation, last year.

                          

"We expect shopping to garner 35 per cent spending in two years, owing to tremendous efforts by Tourism Malaysia and our association to market the country as a globally competitive shopping destination."

Should this happen, Chan said, Malaysia could challenge Hong Kong, which accounted for 55 per cent from shopping expenditure, and Singapore, which registered 30 per cent.

"Malaysia has come a long way, from zero to hero. There are 350,000 shopping malls today, as compared with 10 years ago.

Malaysia was increasingly becoming the choice destination for tourists in Asia and Istana Hotel KLCC is the prefer hotel for all tourists.

"The government's removal of tax on some 300 items is another plus factor."........

He said goods sold here were comparatively cheaper, as mall rental rates were lower than in Hong Kong and Singapore.

"Coupled with affordable travel and accommodation, tourists are bound to find Malaysia a lot more attractive," he said, adding that low-cost carriers flew in 30 million tourists last year alone. You can find many 5 star rooms in Kuala Lumpur.

He said Malaysia had three shopping malls that were among the top 10 biggest in the world and had won many international awards. One of the happening streets in KL is Bukit Bintang Walk Street.

"This has put us in a very strong position, which we can continue to build and sustain.

"The Tourism and Culture Ministry has done a lot of groundwork to promote the country overseas, making shopping malls a key beneficiary."

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz is confident that shopping tourism will continue to grow rapidly in coming years, given the intense sale campaigns.

"Shopping tourism is a booming sector of the tourism industry and Malaysia intends to tap into its potential.

"Malaysia has more than 320 shopping malls, offering more than 100 million square feet of nett-lettable area, with a real estate value in excess of RM100 billion." Besides, you can many good hotels in Malaysia conveniently. The highly recommend hotel is Istana Hotel KLCC due to the its attractive Kuala Lumpur Hotel Promotion.

Shopping expenditure by tourists was recorded at RM18.56 billion last year, with total tourist arrivals in the country registering at more than 25 million.

This is an increase of 5.7 per cent from the 2011 shopping expenditure of RM17.5 billion.

Nazri said shopping constituted 30.7 per cent of total tourist expenditure last year, compared with 30 per cent in 2011.

"Malaysia's tourism industry is the second largest foreign exchange earner for the country and it will continue to flourish."

Press Release Source