JEDDAH, 29 May 2005 — Malaysia expects a jump of nearly 50 percent in the number of Saudi tourists visiting the country during the coming summer vacation.
“We expect to receive more than 60,000 Saudi tourists this time compared to 40,000 during last summer,” Tourism Malaysia Chairman Abdullah Jonid told a press conference at Jeddah Marriott yesterday. Some 200,000 tourists are likely to visit the country from the Middle East, compared to 126,000 in 2004.
Malaysia had 46,000 Saudi visitors in 2002, but the figure dropped to 20,000 in 2003. “The drop in the number was attributed to SARS, although Malaysia was not directly affected by the disease,” Jonid said.
The Kingdom figures among the top 10 countries whose visitors spend the maximum in Malaysia. “Saudis spend as much as SR6,700 per person for a 12-day visit,” Jonid said, adding that the figure does not include air tickets. Jonid, who was on a tour of the Kingdom to oversee Tourism Malaysia offices, said this was his first visit after assuming charge as chairman nearly a year ago.
Jonid, who had meetings with various international airlines operating through Malaysia, said Malaysia Airlines, Malaysia’s national carrier, is geared up to increase its thrice weekly flights from the Kingdom to 20 a week during the summer in anticipation of growing demand.