MALAYSIA, seen as antagonistic toward the Philippines because of the latter’s long-standing claim to Sabah, sent more than 100 tourists to the country on Thursday, two weeks after Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) devastated the Visayas.
After touring SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, as well as its environs, on the first of their five-day stay in the country, the Malaysian tourists were very impressed with what they saw.
“Manila is wonderful, great, surprising. We thought the Philippines is still…a troubled country, but it’s not,” said architect Zainol Abidin Mohamed, one of 112 Malaysian tourists who were billeted at the Solaire Resort and Casino at the Entertainment City complex in Parañaque City.
The tourists also watched a local dance troupe performing the traditional Muslim dance singkil, and were entranced by the elaborate costumes and graceful performances of the dancers.
Mohamed said he would like visit the country again next year, and promised to bring some people from the media, as well as from the advertising and travel industries.
“I want my fellow Malaysians to see what I am seeing because many of my compatriots are not aware of how cosmopolitan Manila is. In fact, it is better than Singapore,” he said.
Mohamed is part of what is billed as the “Ambassador’s Tour,” organized by Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Ed Malaya. According to the envoy, about 20 or 30 more wanted to come to the country, but the plane reservation was only for 106 passengers.
Tourism Undersecretary Benito C. Bengzon Jr. told the tourists that their visit “came at an opportune time because of Yolanda. You are the first delegation to visit our country after Haiyan and we deeply appreciate the confidence you have shown in coming to our country at this time.”
“We look forward to share the unique hospitality of our people. Please know that your visit will help spur much-needed economic recovery in the affected areas,” he added.
Malaya said Malaysia is a very close neighbor of the Philippines, and it’s surprising that there are many Malaysians who probably have an outdated perception of the country.
He also said the impression he received is that most of the tourists are expressing an experience contrary to what they had been told about the Philippines or had read in the newspapers.
“Most of them are saying: ‘Wow, we did not expect this.’ They are really pleasantly surprised to see a lot of infrastructure developments and [that] Manila is a very cosmopolitan city [and] full of life,” he added.
The envoy said he hopes to have another tour next year to include those who were not able to come this year, as well as businessmen and investors.
According to Malaya, several Philippine businesses have a presence in Malaysia, such as Petron, which invested $1 billion in putting up some 557 gasoline stations in Kuala Lumpur; the Philippine Long Distance Corp.; and Yellow Cab.
Some of the Malaysian businesses that have set up establishments in the country include Maybank and Resorts World.
The Ambassador’s Tour group was scheduled to visit Intramuros and other historical sites in Manila; Villa Escudero in Quezon province; and either Taal Volcano or Corregidor Island over the weekend.
Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines Dato Mohd Zamri Mohd Kassim said: “We are close neighbors, we’re good friends. We stand in solidarity with the Philippines, and our medical and humanitarian teams are still in Tacloban, assisting the [people] there….”
He also said Malaysia has contributed 1 million ringgit in humanitarian assistance more than a week ago and $1 million in cash for the recovery efforts.
Kassim said the Ambassador Tour is a great initiative that should be pursued by other envoys in the region.
In 2012 Malaysia registered 505,744 tourist arrivals from the Philippines, which is still among the top 10 tourist markets for the Muslim-majority country.
In contrast, the Department of Tourism said only 114,513 Malaysian tourists visited the Philippines last year—the first time the 100,000 mark was breached.
Some 4.27 million tourists arrived in the Philippines in 2012, a 9.1-percent increase from the year before.