BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Enterprise  >  Enterprise Explores  >  Local Tourism Numbers Are Up — What’s Driving the Surge?

Local Tourism Numbers Are Up — What’s Driving the Surge?

Nigel Wong, President, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents

12-Sep-24 12:00

Local Tourism Numbers Are Up — What’s Driving the Surge?

This week, Marriott International announced plans to open 20 new hotels in Malaysia by 2029, driven by the surge in tourism, in which Malaysia has seen a notable rise in the first half of 2024.

From breathtaking landscapes to vibrant cultural experiences, captivating both local and international travellers alike, the country's allure seems to be stronger than ever. One of the highlights at the recent MATTA Fair, which saw record participation, was a special focus on showcasing Borneo, positioning it as a must-visit destination for 2024.

To dive deeper into the driving forces behind this booming tourism wave, we speak with Nigel Wong, the President of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA). In our conversation today, we explore elements that have spurred this resurgence, the role of key destinations like Borneo, and how Malaysia is evolving to meet the growing demand from travellers.

Produced by: Carol Wong

Presented by: Richard Bradbury


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  marketseconomyinternationalenvironmentHistory/Heritageculturetravel

Tags:  community culturetourismlocal tourism





Play / Pause

Listen now : Morning Brief: We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and...

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Joe Quinlan, Chief Market Strategist, US Trust-BOA Private Wealth Management tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Shahnaz Al-Sadat, Chairperson of LeapEd Services, discusses the upcoming education blueprint as well as the Education Ministry's proposal to bring back UPSR and PT3 exams.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Dr. Benjamin Loh, course Director, Bachelor of Digital Media & Communication at Monash University, shares his views about the controversial Grok chatbot.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, University of Mary Washington discusses the state of US foreign relations following the attack on Venezuela and capture of Nicolas Maduro.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

James Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies discusses whether Iran is on the verge of a regime change.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(REPEAT) We dive into the local and international news that matters to you.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Joe Quinlan, Chief Market Strategist, US Trust-BOA Private Wealth Management tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

Royce Tan, Senior Analyst, MBSB Research gives his view on Sunway's takeover offer for IJM.

9:35 AM

People, Planet, Profit

We cover the latest news and views in the ESG space to help businesses thrive with impact.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

APOM’s Chantelle Teoh and Kelvin Long will explore their journey from advertising to retail, building a 7-figure brand by turning Malaysian culture into "witty" merchandise.

11:00 AM

Marketing Mojo

Malaysia’s 2026 Media Map: TikTok Shops, YouTube Classrooms. Vase.ai’s Julie Ng unpacks why TikTok has become the top brand discovery engine (64%) and YouTube the primary learning hub (79%).

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

Lock In or Lose Out? The Looming Office Supply Crunch. Knight Frank’s Amy Wong explains why 2026 is a "decision year" for tenants as new office supply is set to drop by 11% this year.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Beyond the Ballot Box

We speak to an expert from the Tricontinental Institute of Social Research about the US' invasion of Venezuela.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Have you seen weight loss medications marketed at you online? Should you be tempted to buy them? We speak to an expert about why this is more dangerous than you think.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

A countdown of the 5 biggest stories of the day, to catch you up on all you need to know!

6:00 PM

Talkback Tuesday