By Selangor Journal Team
SHAH ALAM, Dec 20 — Tourism Selangor embarked on a week-long sales mission to Taiwan recently as the state looks to draw in more tourist arrivals from the republic next year.
This is in line with the state tourism promotion agency’s strategic shift in focus to attract more international tourists ahead of the Visit Selangor Year 2025.
The mission, which took place from November 29 to December 5, was spearheaded by state executive councillor for tourism Ng Suee Lim, with attention particularly geared towards showcasing the charm of the northern and southern regions of Selangor.
In a statement, Tourism Selangor said the trip successfully gathered a diverse group of over 100 potential travel buyers and agents in Taipei and Kaohsiung to listen to the state’s pitch.
It added that the sales mission was anchored by the state’s global tourism campaign ‘Splendid Selangor, Take Me Anywhere!’, an initiative that seeks to foster international relationships and establish connections to showcase Selangor’s diverse attractions, ranging from eco-tourism, theme parks, cultural and heritage, and shopping and leisure experiences.
“The trip showcased Selangor’s diverse gastronomic delights, including the flavourful Bak Kut Teh, and immersed prospective Taiwanese visitors in the cultural richness of Chinese community villages in Kuala Langat, Hulu Selangor and Sabak Bernam,” it said today.
“Additionally, the mission highlighted a number of enticing tourist attractions, such as Sky Mirror and eagle feeding in Kuala Selangor, mesmerising fireflies sightseeing in Sabak Bernam and Kuala Selangor, and adventurous activities like paragliding and white water rafting in Hulu Selangor.
Among the key local tourism industry players that participated in the trip to Taiwan were Farm in the City, GL Play by Gamuda Land, Sky Mirror, Hong Long International Group Sdn Bhd, Golden Point, Pearl Holiday and On Holiday Sdn Bhd.
The mission was held in collaboration with the municipal councils of Sabak Bernam, Kuala Langat and Hulu Selangor, as well as the Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated).
Meanwhile, the statement quoted Ng as expressing hope that the number of visitors from Taiwan to Selangor would increase in the coming years following a dip resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The state executive councillor noted that while Selangor received 79,783 Taiwanese visitors in 2019, this figure dropped considerably to 24,191 in 2020 and 12,918 in 2021.
“However, with the travel ban lifted, we can see a surge in tourists from Taiwan, with 15,503 tourists inflow last year and a flight frequency of 59 per week in 2022.”
In September, Ng had said that Selangor will declare 2025 as a Visit Selangor Year in its effort to bolster the tourism industry.
He said the state will begin preparing as early as next year, ahead of Putrajaya’s own Visit Malaysia Year, also planned for 2025.
