Tourists from Turkiye visiting Malaysia in the period from January to November 2023 increased by 10.8%, totaling 15,623 people compared to 14,096 in the same period in 2019.
Datuk Roslan Abdul Rahman, the secretary-general of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, attributed this increase to the success of the Ministry’s efforts to promote Malaysia as an appealing destination for foreign tourists.
Roslan explained that the comparison with 2019 was made because that year was marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, while the data for 2023 has not yet been analyzed and presented to the Cabinet.
He expressed hope for an even better figure in 2024, through various campaigns to position Malaysia as a premier tourism destination.
Roslan made these comments to the press after accompanying Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing to Batik Air’s inaugural flight on the Kuala-Lumpur-Istanbul Sabiha Gocken International Airport (KUL-ISG) route at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 1 on Saturday, February 10.
During the event, the Batik Air aircraft received a ceremonial water cannon salute as it entered the hangar, and lion dance performers accompanied passengers entering the arrival hall with gongs and cymbals.
Tiong, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister, welcomed around 90 tourists and presented them with souvenirs as a token of appreciation for choosing Malaysia as their destination.
In early August, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that Batik Air was selected as the operator for the KUL-ISG route after Malaysia Airports Holding Bhd pledged to invest £200 million (RM1.1 billion) in the Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport.
Malaysia and Turkiye have held diplomatic relations since 1964, spanning six decades. – Bernama
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