West Asian Tourist
Abstract
This study seeks to analysis some of major features of the phenomenon that dramatically appeared by influx of West Asian visitors to Malaysia that had evolved out the aftermath of September 11 and London Bombing. Data had been collected from a year field works, from mid-2007 to mid-2008, in Klang Valley, Langkawi, Penang, Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands and a few tourist spots in the east coast of Peninsula. This study indicates that there are two major scenarios in Malaysian tourism: First, with the increasing number of their coming since 2001, the emerging West Asian tourist markets not only of the future with huge economic, demographic and destination potentials to Malaysia, but also has created Islamic feature in Malaysian tourism. Secondly, they have brought economic structural change in Malaysia tourism with the emergence of Islamic entrepreneurs as new players in the industry. In short, they have reconstructed toward more Islamic tourism in Malaysia in both sides, the demand and the supply.
References (9)
- 2: International Arrivals to U.S. by Middle-East Country of Residency, 1990-1999. Region / Country of Residence 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Bahrain 4,210 3,906 4,581 5,477 5,393 5,891 5,843 5,863 6,403 6,373 Cyprus 6,108 6,170 6,640 7,119 6,633 8,675 10,103 10,608 11,069 11,485 Egypt 22,019 22,210 21,478 23,565 23,130 25,272 28,301 35,275 38,832 42,777 Iran 17,419 12,883 12,577 12,101 10,870 9,885 7,896 7,231 8,293 8,453 Iraq 4,745 309 609 246 241 361 Israel 161,722 169,912 160,051 186,409 189,139 216,419 231,347 260,052 269,752 283,306
- Oman 2,186 2,329 2,784 3,384 3,834 4,356 5,116 Qatar 4,199 5,208 5,437 5,328 Saudi Arabia 48,258 51,148 60,966 66,679 63,994 64,833 56,792 67,962 68,288 72,891 Syria 7,249 5,175 7,881 6,444 6,477 4,993 5,554 6,607 7,199 7,640 Turkey 31,048 32,064 35,241 40,745 33,563 44,769 52,680 68,254 78,219 88,301 United Arab Emirates ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ 26,692 29,265 35,506 37,635
- Yemen 1,826 1,900 1,618 1,858 Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, Office of Travel & Tourism Industries. Table 2: (Continue): International Arrivals to U.S. by Middle-East Country of Residency, 2000-2006. Region / Country of Residence 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 Bahrain 6,735 6,256 3,802 3,745 4,148 5,176 5,630 Cyprus 12,152 10,893 9,378 9,485 9,087 9,698 9,215 Egypt 44,612 41,438 24,315 20,225 20,772 24,048 27,129
- Yemen 1,995 1,259 445 388 562 937 1,078 Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, ITA, Office of Travel & Tourism Industries. References Ady and Waller, 1989 and Ady and Waller 1992. Impressed by Dr Mahathir's socio-economic policies and after interviewing the leader several times, one Arab writer, Dr Abdelrahim, wrote a book in Arabic titled "Dr Mahathir Mohamad From An Arab Perspective." So influenced by Dr Mahathir's work, he wrote a second book also in Arabic "Dr Mahathir Mohamad: A Wise Man In A Crazy World," published in January this year and which has sold nearly 15,000 copies, a staggering best-seller by Arab standard. Information given by Ng Sze Mun (the owner of Best Friend Foot Massage & Fish Spa, Bukit Bintang);
- Mohyiddin Alhalabi (a Syrian, the founder of Tarbush Restaurant at Bukit Bintang); asked Anawarul (36, a Bangladesh who owned Oud Line, a perfume, kayu wood, cloth and other merchandises store, at the main street of Jalan Bukit Bintang).
- Information given by Ng Sze Mun (the owner of Best Friend Foot Massage & Fish Spa, Bukit Bintang);
- Mohyiddin Alhalabi (a Syrian, the founder of Tarbush Restaurant at Bukit Bintang); asked Anawarul (36, a Bangladesh who owned Oud Line, a perfume, kayu wood, cloth and other merchandises store, at the main street of Jalan Bukit Bintang).
- Information given by Ng Sze Mun (the owner of Best Friend Foot Massage & Fish Spa, Bukit Bintang);
- Mohyiddin Alhalabi (a Syrian, the founder of Tarbush Restaurant at Bukit Bintang); asked Anawarul (36, a