PETALING JAYA: Malaysia hopes to have an audience reach of between two million and four million in its tourism push using social media.
The Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board has invited 25 social media influencers and key opinion leaders from nine Asean countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – to write about tourism destinations in the country.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi said on Monday night 70.1% of tourist arrivals in 2018 are from Asean countries.
"Being in the same Southeast Asia region, we are all naturally each other's largest source of tourist arrivals," Mohamaddin said at the Malaysia-Asean Tourism Influencers Key Opinion Leaders Programme dinner.
He said the programme is to leverage on regional social media influencers and their fanbase to promote tourist destinations in Malaysia, especially as a build-up to the Visit Malaysia 2020 promotion campaign.
"We are excited to follow the participants’ adventures and experiences throughout the programme on their social media platforms from the sharing and reposting of their entries," Mohamaddin said.
His speech was read out by the Malaysia Tourism deputy director-general (planning) Zulkifly Md Said.
Mohamaddin said the participants are expected to generate 30 to 40 stories consisting of feature articles, postings, live feeds and stories on Facebook, lnstagram, YouTube, Twitter and blogs.
They will travel in separate groups to explore all attractions in all 13 states in Malaysia.
They will also witness Merdeka Day celebrations in Putrajaya on Aug 31.
The programme is a mix of sightseeing, hands-on activities and self-exploration by the influencers to provide a well-rounded experience of Malaysia.
