MALAYSIA: analysis of the destination over the period 2015- 2017

Malaysia is this direction the demand for which among Russian tourists is constantly growing due to the unusual tourist product and year-round service. So, according to the Ministry of Tourism of Malaysia, the country was visited by: 2015 year - 54,000 Russian tourists 2016 year - 45,000 Russian tourists 2017 year - 54,000 Russian tourists According to the head of the Moscow office of the National Office for Tourism of Malaysia in Russia, Nur Zuliya Mohammed, the increase in tourist flow in 2017 compared to 2016 is quite impressive - more than 30%. The positive dynamics persists in the current year, which makes it possible to predict its increase by 10–20% compared to 2017. And this, in turn, allows us to make the most optimistic forecasts on the eve of the “Year of Tourism in Malaysia - 2020”. There is a visa-free entry for up to 30 days for the Russians, so there are all the conditions to fuel further growth. In Malaysia the Russians most often choose Kuala Lumpur and a beach holiday. Recently, however, there has been an increase in the popularity of adventure tourism, which is provided by the state program “Homestay”. The program allows you to live in a local family and learn the peculiarities of the country’s life and culture. Local authorities also account on eco- and medical tourism. Also, there are a huge number of business, shopping, culture and SPA opportunities in Malaysia. Tourists are attracted by jungles, wild paths and a plenty of rare species of flora and fauna. For children there are LegoLand and advanced theme park of the 20 Century Fox company in the country, as well as water parks, zoos, attractions and much more. Malaysia is gaining a leading position as an international diving area, having the richest marine fauna in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The incredible variety of underwater inhabitants and beautiful islands with white sand beaches surrounded by clear warm waters attract divers here from Russia. The average duration of a trip for the Russians in Malaysia is 7.3 days. The average cost of the rest is 4804 Ringgit per person ($ 1,150). Russia keeps the fourth line on the list of all European source markets in the number of tourists resting in Malaysia, just behind the UK, France and Germany. Locals in Malaysia are friendly, always ready to help, they can even invite an unfamiliar tourist to visit their home. Tourists can feel themselves completely safe In Malaysia. The National Office for Tourism of Malaysia in Russia works with major tour operators - Tez-Tour, ITM Group, Biblio-Globus, Art-Tour, Quinta-Tour, Russian Express, Vedi-Tour Group. It provides support in the implementation of promotional campaigns, which include advertising, seminars, workshops, webinars, digital promo in internet resources, articles in magazines. Also, a lot of Malaysian incoming companies and hotel chains are invited to participate in these events. Malaysia is focused on people of absolutely any wealth. In the country there are as upmarket resorts with luxury hotels as a very widely represented segment of 3-4 stars hotels. Russia has no direct flights to Malaysia, but there are convenient connecting flights with departures from Moscow. The most comfortable option is to fly by Singapore Airlines to Singapore, then a short two-hour change - and another hour in the sky to Kuala Lumpur, from where you can get to almost any region of Malaysia. Mrs. Nur Zulia Mohammed views the Russian market as one of the strategic ones, which, together with other world markets, will allows to increase the flow of tourists to Malaysia up to 36 million people by 2020 and to boost the income from the tourism industry to 168 billion Malaysian Ringgits (42.6 billion dollars).