Selangor Journal: Tourism Selangor: Attractive 2023 deals spark 99 pct surge in Middle Eastern visitors

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SHAH ALAM, May 13 — Tourism Selangor reported a 99 per cent increase in Middle Eastern tourists last year thanks to its attractive deals.

Its chief executive officer Azrul Shah Mohamad said Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Oman were the primary contributors to the boost in Middle Eastern tourists, collectively accounting for 79.13 per cent of the 176,711 tourist arrivals from the region.

He said five local authorities — the Subang Jaya City Council, Sepang Municipal Council, Ampang Jaya Municipal Council, Petaling Jaya City Council, and Shah Alam City Council — welcomed the highest number of tourists from the Middle East

“The growing interest from Middle Eastern tourists is testament to Selangor’s allure. Last year, there was a significant surge to 176,711 tourists (from the region), marking a 99 per cent increase from 2022’s 89,006 tourist influx.

“This upward trend is a sign of our blooming friendship and mutual appreciation between Selangor, Malaysia, and Middle Eastern countries,” he said in a statement today.

In response to the notable increase, Azrul said the state agency scheduled a strategic sales mission to Dubai from May 6 to 9, in conjunction with the prestigious Arabian Travel Market trade show.

He said the initiative, spearheaded by Tourism Malaysia Dubai along with Tourism Selangor, aimed to fortify existing ties and explore new avenues for collaboration.

“During the sales mission, Selangor cemented partnerships with key players in the Middle Eastern travel landscape, including a groundbreaking collaboration with KPJ Healthcare to promote medical tourism in the state.

“A strategic alliance with AirArabia is expected to enhance connectivity, supported by the 96 direct flights linking Middle Eastern countries to Selangor, boasting a capacity of 30,461 seats recorded in 2022 alone by international airlines such as AirArabia, Salam Air, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, and others.

“This will pave the way for a series of cross-promotional endeavours, spanning familiarisation trips to robust business-to-business opportunities, poised to elevate Selangor’s tourism profile on the global stage,” the statement read.

Azrul also said the state remains dedicated to encouraging international collaborations, and welcomes the chance to work with travel and foreign agencies to promote business growth, in line with the state’s global tourism campaign “Splendid Selangor, Take Me Anywhere!”.

“Partnerships with global stakeholders will play a pivotal role in achieving seven million tourists during Visit Selangor Year in 2025,” he added.

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