KUALA LUMPUR, 12 APRIL 2018: Tourism Malaysia and TUI Group, the world’s leading tourism group, together announced a new Fly & Cruise programme that is expected to increase European tourist arrivals to Malaysia and boost the country’s cruise tourism.

The announcement was made during TUI Group’s courtesy visit today to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, represented by Director General of Tourism Malaysia, YBhg. Datuk Seri Mirza Mohammad Taiyab.

The Fly & Cruise programme will begin from 20 December 2018 until 29 March 2019 with TUI Group offering direct flights to Langkawi and thereafter regional cruises for its European customers from the Isle of Legends. Passengers will be delivered on three fortnightly flights on the 787 Dreamliner from three UK airports (Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham) to Langkawi.

With TUI Group’s cruise ship homeporting in Langkawi, all passengers will spend at least one night in Langkawi before embarking on a 14-day cruise itinerary which will also include destinations such as Penang, Port Klang and Melaka in Malaysia, as well as Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

The total potential capacity is expected to be about 7,200 passengers in the first year of operation.

Datuk Seri Mirza welcomed the decision of TUI Group to strengthen its presence in Malaysia, saying “We are very happy about TUI’s decision to offer flights and cruises from Langkawi. As the leading European tourism business, this initiative by TUI Group will strongly boost the visibility of Malaysia across all European source markets. At the same time, our position as an international transportation hub will increase and add value to our economy.”

He added, “This programme will see a new chapter of collaboration with Europe’s biggest agents especially TUI Group - the newly crowned Best Foreign Tour Operator during the Malaysia Tourism Awards 2016/17 - and will firmly put Malaysia on the cruise tourism map.”

He said, “This initiative also supports the Visit Malaysia 2020 (VM2020) campaign that is projected to welcome 36 million tourists to Malaysia and register RM168 billion in tourist receipts for the country.”

Frank Vahldiek, Director International Partnerships of TUI Group said, “Our strategic priority is to drive growth in all-year destinations – and Asia is one of the key growth regions. Our European customers show an ever growing interest to visit countries such as Malaysia.”

He added, “Malaysia is both a beautiful truly Asian destination – and an exciting market for our touristic products at the same time. Hence we are now developing exciting programmes for Malaysian and Asian customers who are increasingly looking to book Western-style holidays in regional destinations.”

He continued, “We are determined to grow our presence in Malaysia further. This will continue to strengthen the Malaysian tourism sector with its positive knock-on effects in other sectors of the economy.”

Currently, all three cruise companies of TUI Group – TUI Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises as well as UK-based Marella Cruises – have now included Malaysia in their programs. With three Malaysian ports of call – including one homeport (Langkawi, Port Klang and Penang), TUI Group’s cruise companies is expected to help drive growth for Malaysia’s cruise tourism sector.

Background on TUI Group:

TUI Group is the world’s leading tourism group operating in around 180 destinations worldwide. The company is domiciled in Germany. The TUI Group’s share is listed in the FTSE 100 index, the leading index of the London Stock Exchange, and in the German open market. In financial year 2017, TUI Group recorded turnover of €18.5bn and an operating result of €1.102bn. The Group employs 67,000 people in more than 100 countries. TUI offers its more than 20 million customers comprehensive services from a single source. It covers the entire tourism value chain under one roof. This comprises around 330 Group-owned hotels and resorts with premium brands such as RIU and Robinson as well as 15 cruise ships ranging from the MS Europa and MS Europa 2 luxury class vessels to the Mein Schiff fleet of TUI Cruises and the vessels of Marella Cruises in the UK. The Group also includes leading international tour operator brands, 1,600 travel agencies in Europe and five European tour operator airlines with around 150 modern medium- and long-haul aircraft. Global responsibility for sustainable economic, ecological and social activity is a key feature of our corporate culture. TUI Care Foundation promotes the positive effects of tourism. It initiates projects that create new opportunities for the next generation and contributes to a positive development of the holiday destinations. Further information is available at www.tuigroup.com.

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.tourism.gov.my/

MALAYSIA TOURISM PROMOTION BOARD OR TOURISM MALAYSIA is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism & Culture, Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. In 2017, Malaysia registered 25.9 million tourist arrivals, placing it among the major tourism destinations of the world.

Press contact:

Media Relations Unit:

Aliza Mansor, Senior Assistant Director, Corporate Communication Division
Tel: +603-8891 8789
Email: aliza@tourism.gov.my

Editorial Unit:

Anis Rozalina Ramli (Ms), Senior Editor, Corporate Communication Division
Tel: +603-8891 8759
Email: anisramli@tourism.gov.my