SPEECH BY

DATO’ MIRZA MOHAMMAD TAIYAB

DIRECTOR-GENERAL, TOURISM MALAYSIA

FAREWELL DINNER FOR

THE ROAD TO MANDALAY 2015

SARKIES RESTAURANT, E&O HOTEL, PENANG

05 FEBRUARY 2015, THURSDAY, 6.30PM

SALUTATIONS:

MR. PHILIP YOUNG

Rally Chairman for Endurance Rally Association

Participants of the Road to Mandalay 2015,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen.

PLEASANTRIES / OPENING:

1. Good evening. First of all, I would like to congratulate the Endurance Rally Association (ERA) for successfully organising the Road to Mandalay rally.

2. We are pleased to lend our support to this prestigious event as it allows participants to experience Malaysia by road to enjoy our scenic countryside. 3. Besides, it also provides an excellent opportunity for us to promote Malaysia, as the participants come from various countries, including Britain, New Zealand, USA, Canada, and Australia.

Ladies and gentlemen,

THE ROAD TO MANDALAY 2015 & GEORGE TOWN:

4. This is the fifth day of your rally. From Singapore, you have travelled to Desaru, followed by the coastal city of Kuantan, and then to Cameron Highlands and Kota Bharu.

5. I hope you’ve had an enjoyable and memorable experience throughout your journey these few days. Most importantly, I hope you get to enjoy our many interesting sights and sounds, visit some of our attractions and try our local cuisines.

6. Today, I am pleased and proud to bid you all a warm welcome to George Town, Penang, which is one of Malaysia’s very own UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Being an island, Penang is a port city with cruises and yachts available for charter and it is the perfect way to enjoy this tropical island paradise.

7. You’ll be spending two nights here, so I hope you will get the chance to explore this beautiful historic city. If you love good food, this is definitely the place to be. Even Lonely Planet ranked it as the Number One culinary hotspot in the world for 2014.

Ladies and gentlemen,

MALAYSIA’S TOURISM AND MYFEST 2015:

8. Following our celebration of the successful Visit Malaysia Year 2014, we are embarking on another major tourism campaign this year – the Malaysia Year of Festivals, or MyFEST.

9. It is designed to give tourists an amazing holiday experience with an emphasis on the cultural aspect of the many different festivals celebrated by Malaysia’s multicultural society. Therefore, the country will be in ‘Endless Celebrations’ this year, which is also the theme of this milestone event.

10. If this is your first trip to Malaysia, I strongly encourage you to return after this rally to spend a long holiday here with your family and friends. There are so much more to explore and experience in different parts of the country.

11. Whatever your interest, I can assure you that we have it all. Our attractions range from rich and colourful multi-cultural heritage to marvellous natural wonders, as well as luxury experiences like spa and wellness, golfing, and duty-free shopping sprees.

Ladies and gentlemen,

CONCLUSION:

12. Malaysia has received various international recognitions and accolades in recent years, which speak volumes for its thriving tourism industry.

13. We’ve been crowned as Asia’s Best Golf Destination, Best Family Destination, and the fourth Best Shopping City in the World. We were also in the Top 10 of Lonely Planet Best in Travel 2014, and recently, we have listed as the world’s fourth top retirement haven for 2015. However, all these merely serve as encouragement for us to work harder to promote our tourism industry and to make sure our visitors will return again and again.

14. With that, I sincerely look forward to seeing you spending your holiday in Malaysia soon.

15. I hope all of you have an enjoyable and memorable stay in Malaysia. I wish you all the best and a safe and exciting journey to Mandalay, Myanmar.

Thank you.