FOREIGN tourist arrivals for Visit Malaysia Year 2020 (VMY2020) will indirectly bring economic spillover for residents in rural areas, said Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Mohamaddin Ketapi.

He said the various campaigns carried out, including digital marketing, would attract more foreign tourists to the country.

Referring to the strategic cooperation between Tourism Malaysia and the Expedia group, he said it helped in promoting new and unique tourist spots in Malaysia, as well as places to stay, including homestays in rural areas.

“Through this strategic cooperation, both parties have begun a global campaign to attract tourists from Australia, Japan and the United States to Malaysia.

“The economic spillover will reach the rural areas, with aggressive and widespread promotions being carried out, including digitally and through the social media platform,” he said when appearing as a guest on TV1’s Bicara Naratif: TMM2020.

Mohamaddin said to realise VMY2020’s target of 30 million arrivals in foreign tourists and a revenue of RM100 billion, Tourism Malaysia has also leveraged on regional social media influencers and their fan base to promote tourist destinations in Malaysia.

This was done through the Malaysia-Asean Tourism Influencers Key Opinion Leaders Programme, held from August 26 to September 1, and involved the participation of 25 social media influencers and key opinion leaders from nine Asean countries, he added.

He said Malaysia would also be hosting various international events next year, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 2020 and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which would help to promote the country abroad.

To ensure the campaign’s success, Tourism Malaysia has also partnered with Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, and Malindo Air to fly the VMY2020 logo for promotions overseas, he added. – Bernama, December 7, 2019.