HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM, 21 APRIL 2014: Tourism Malaysia Ho Chi Minh City recently organised an ‘Appreciation Luncheon with Vietnam Travel Trade 2014’ on 18th April 2014 at Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The Luncheon was hosted by Y.B. Dato' Seri Mohamed Nazri Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Tourism and Culture Malaysia.

Among the dignitaries who graced the event were Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thuy Duong, Deputy Director of Representative office of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City together with others representatives from local authorities in Ho Chi Minh City and Mr. Shazryll Zahiran, Consul General of Malaysia in Ho Chi Minh City.

YB Senator Dato’ Maznah Mazlan, Deputy Chairman of Tourism Malaysia and Y.Bhg. Dato' Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, Director General of Tourism Malaysia and Mr. Syed Yahya Syed Othman, Acting Director of International Marketing (Southeast Asia) and Mr. Ahmad Zaki Mohd Salleh, Director of Tourism Malaysia in Vietnam were also present.

This special luncheon aimed to showcase Malaysia’s appreciation to the travel trade fraternity and media for their strong support and assistance in promoting Malaysia as a top-of-mind holiday destination to Vietnamese, especially with the Visit Malaysia Year celebrations and to boost awareness of VMY 2014 in the market.

In his speech, YB Minister stressed on the importance of Vietnam market to Malaysia and highlighted major events and activities in Malaysia in 2014 from sports and culture to festivals and arts, reflecting a celebration of the diverse lifestyles and customs of Malaysia.
A token of appreciation was also given by the Minister to the top 10 travel agents in Ho Chi Minh City for contributing to the promotion of Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

The luncheon was held in conjunction with YB Minister’s attendance at the 11th ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting in Hue from 18 – 22 April 2014.

Vietnam is among Malaysia’s top 15 generating markets with 2013 showing a growth of 11.17 per cent from 211,008 arrivals in 2012 to 235,700 in 2013.

For more information, please contact:
Ms Do Phan Vinh Hai – Marketing Manager
M: +84962 285 999
E: vinhhai@tourism.gov.my

Ms Nguyen Vu Ai Nhu – Marketing Executive
M: +84909 131316
E: ainhu@tourism.gov.my

MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD (TOURISM MALAYSIA)
Unit 1208, 12th Floor, Me Linh Point Tower
2 Ngo Duc Ke Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: (84-8) 3825 8036 Fax: (84-8) 3825 8037
Email: mtpb.hochiminh@tourism.gov.my
Website: www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my
Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com/t

ENDS

For more media releases, media info and media features on Malaysia’s tourism industry, kindly visit the Media Centre of Tourism Malaysia’s website at http://www.tourismmalaysia.gov.my/

MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD OR TOURISM MALAYSIA is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia at all levels. Since its inception, Tourism Malaysia has grown by leaps and bounds and it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. In 2013, Malaysia registered 25.7 million tourist arrivals and RM65.4 billion in receipts, making tourism its second largest foreign exchange earner and the sixth highest contributor to its Gross National Income (GNI).

Malaysia is celebrating its fourth VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR (VMY) in 2014 with the theme “Celebrating 1Malaysia Truly Asia”. The VMY 2014 promotional campaign has started in 2013 with a series of year-long special events and activities leading to VMY 2014. It will contribute to the Government’s target to receive 36 million tourist arrivals and RM168 billion in receipts by 2020, as outlined in the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan (MTTP) 2020.    

Press contact:
Media Relations Unit:
Mr. Razaidi Abd Rahim, Senior Asst. Director, Communications & Publicity Division
Tel: +603-8891 8768
Email: razaidi@tourism.gov.my

Editorial Unit:
Ms. Anis Rozalina Ramli, Senior Editor, Communications & Publicity Division
Tel: +603-8891 8759
Email: anisramli@tourism.gov.my