An India beyond the usual
India and Malaysia enjoy a healthy tourist exchange. The objective, however, still remains that Malaysians visiting the country be proposed a package that allows them to explore the unexplored.
ITripti Mehta from Langkawi t is no secret that India’s geography offers a diversity that caters to travellers of all kinds. The country continues to be a favoured destination for tourists arriving from Southeast Asia, and is a preferred travel destination for Malaysians. Speaking about the tourism connect between India and Malaysia, Mridul Kumar, High Commissioner of India to Malaysia, says, “Malaysia has a good, organic market for tourism in India. We had over 250,000 Malaysians who visited India last year. A lot of people from both sides travel to each other’s country. We have about 2.7 million people of Indian origin who live in Malaysia; they travel to India for various reasons. There is a huge spiritual connect that you will see for people of Indian origin living here.” What makes India a global tourist attraction is the completeness it offers in terms of travel options, but Kumar feels that the packages the country offers to visitors need a little work. He says, package. However, what we need to do is get more people from Malaysia to India, and that requires a little push. Our packaging is not as mature as it should be. If our tour operators can create need-based packages and make them end-to-end, giving travellers from Malaysia an offer that is cost comparative and takes them out of Tamil Nadu and Kerala (their natural choice) and allows them to explore the Buddhist circuit, India’s Northeast, Kashmir, etc, the business of tourism will only give them a very different atmosphere that they haven’t seen and provide them good packaging through honest tour
If our tour operators can create need-based packages and make them end-to-end, giving travellers from Malaysia an offer that is cost comparative
operators. It is a huge market that you can easily tap.” On a lighter note, Kumar recommends some Indian and Malaysian destinations that travellers from either side must visit. “For Indians, Genting and Kuala Lumpur are very common sectors. Sabah and Sarawak are also beautiful and unexplored. These are some of the places where people can come and enjoy their holidays. I would also suggest that Malaysians visit our hill stations; I bet they have not seen hills like ours. Take them to Darjeeling, take them to the Northeast, take them to Kashmir, and maybe even Ooty, and they’ll be left in awe,” he concludes.