Tourexpi
In 2023, Malaysia witnessed unprecedented
cruise arrival figures, with its ports welcoming 1,055 cruise ships carrying
1,520,608 passengers—an 84.78% rise in ship arrivals and a 62.43% increase in
passenger numbers compared to 2019 pre-pandemic rates.
As a burgeoning tourism hub in Southeast Asia, Malaysia presently
serves as the homeport for two cruise lines operating from Port Klang in Kuala
Lumpur, with plans for further expansion in the future. Marking a historic
milestone in Malaysia's aspiration to emerge as a premier homeporting
destination, the maiden voyage of the Costa Serena departed from Port Klang
in January 2024. Costa Serena is the latest addition to Kuala
Lumpur's list of cruise partners choosing it as their homeport. With this,
cruise tourism emerges as a key sector in elevating Malaysia's global
appeal, in line with the destination's promotional plans toward Visit Malaysia
2026, the nation's upcoming campaign to welcome 35.6 million foreign tourist
arrivals in 2026.
To advance these promotional plans and in line with
the National Transport Policy (NTP) 2019-2030, a delegation from Malaysia led
by The Honorable Loke Siew Fook, Minister of Transport Malaysia is attending
the Seatrade Cruise Global 2024, from April 8 to 11, 2024, at the Miami
Beach Convention Center in Miami, Florida, USA. Attendees are invited
to visit booth #311 to engage with the Ministry of Transport Malaysia and its
port authorities to gain insights into the destination's strategic location,
world-class infrastructure, and wealth of natural and cultural attractions.
As part of efforts to promote Malaysia as
a homeporting destination, besides actively engaging media interviews and
discussion sessions, The Honorable Minister of Transport will deliver a keynote
address titled "Malaysia Truly Asia: Malaysia Cruise Tourism" and
will use this platform to highlight the advantages and potential of Malaysia as
an attractive cruise destination. Malaysia's presence as a
homeporting destination will not only strengthen the country's tourism industry
but will also provide significant impetus to the local economy, including
tourism-related sectors such as hospitality, tourism services, food and
beverage businesses, and others.
"We are again thrilled to be part of Seatrade
Cruise Global. This event provides an excellent platform to highlight Malaysia's potential
as a homeport and to forge valuable connections with industry leaders. We look
forward to engaging with the global cruise community and inviting them to
experience the wonders of Malaysia, especially in developing suitable
cruise tourism trips and packages into Malaysia", said Mr. Akbal
Setia, the Vice President of Tourism Malaysia - Americas.
Malaysia's participation in the world's
leading cruise industry event highlights its dedication to harnessing the
sector's potential as a driver for economic growth and bolstering Malaysia's status
as a preferred global tourist destination towards its Visit Malaysia 2026.
Image
Credit: © Tourism Malaysia US
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