Malaysia has request tour operators from Sweden to include Penang and Langkawi in Their tour packages to Thailand.
Tourism Deputy Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai said this would be a win-win situation for tourists and Malaysia as they will get to see more places without much additional cost.
Lim said this synergy would be possible with Firefly Sdn Bhd, a 100% subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, which will take to the skies from April 2 and it will be based at the Penang International Airport.
The Firefly routes include Penang to Langkawi and also Penang to Koh Samui and Phuket in Thailand. About 400,000 tourists from Sweden went to Thailand last year and Thai Airways flies from Stockholm to Bangkok daily.
For a start, Firefly will use two 50-seater Fokker planes to fly to Phukiet and Koh Samui seven times a week. And 14 times weekly to Kota Baru, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan and Langkawi.
MAS has three direct flights from Stockholm to KL International Airport every week.
“Our problem is always not enough seats,” said Lim who was on a 12-day official trip to promote tourism in Europe.
He said he would speak to MAS to fly at least four to five times from Stockholm to KL International Airport weekly and increase this frequency during winter and summer which are peak periods for traveling out of Europe.
About 36,280 people from Sweden visited Malaysia last year. And Malaysia is targeting attract 50,000 tourists from Sweden this year.
“This connectivity will further boost tourist arrivals, particularly to achieve our 20 million targets during Visit Malaysia 2007,” says Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy.
“As well as enhance economic development within Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand growth area in the long term.”
