Tourism Ideas

When I came to LA last week , while looking some ideas on how to promote Malaysia in US market , i bumped into this guy .. His name is Alex Hormozi . He is a successful entrepreneur and fitness expert… and a good marketeer .

Alex Hormozi is a highly experienced marketer and business consultant who has a deep understanding of the American market and how to successfully market products and services to consumers in the United States. I think Malaysian tourism players can learn one or two tips on how to promote Malaysia in US market

His marketing strategies and techniques have been proven to be effective in helping businesses expand into the American market and increase their market share.

I think by following his advice on how to market Malaysia in the American market, Malaysian tour operators , DMC or any Malaysian companies can tap into the vast potential of the US market and reach a wider audience.

Additionally, his strategies are tailored to the unique cultural and economic factors that influence consumer behavior in the US, making them particularly effective in reaching and engaging American consumers.

One of the key points that Hormozi emphasizes is the importance of providing a clean and well-maintained environment for tourists. This includes not only the physical cleanliness of the premises, but also ensuring that all facilities and amenities are in good working order. A clean and well-maintained environment can go a long way in creating a positive impression on tourists and making them feel more comfortable and welcome.

Another important aspect that Hormozi highlights is the need to offer a wide range of services and amenities to tourists. This includes providing a variety of accommodation options, as well as activities and excursions that cater to different interests and preferences. By offering a diverse range of services and amenities, tourism businesses can attract a wider range of customers and increase their appeal to a broader market.

Hormozi also suggests that entrepreneurs in the Malaysian tourism industry should focus on promoting their businesses through word of mouth. Meaning word of mouth is through social media with good reviews and testimonies.

This type of promotion is very effective, as it relies on satisfied customers to spread the word about their positive experiences to friends and family. By providing excellent service and going above and beyond to meet the needs of their customers, tourism businesses can encourage positive word-of-mouth promotion and build a strong reputation in the industry.

Alex provide valuable advice to Malaysian tour operators on how to create effective and enjoyable tour packages for American tourists.

He suggests that tour operators should focus on providing a personalized and authentic experience for American tourists by highlighting the unique cultural and historical aspects of Malaysia.

By providing an immersive and educational experience, tour operators can give American tourists a deeper understanding and appreciation of the country.

Additionally, Hormozi advises tour operators to tailor their packages to cater to the specific interests and preferences of American tourists such as eco-tourism, adventure and luxury, by offering a wide range of activities and excursions that align with those interests.

Furthermore, he emphasizes the importance of providing excellent customer service, which can help create a positive image of Malaysia and encourage repeat visits from American tourists.

What 3 things i learned from him …????

ok i lied … I learned more than 3 tips.. here goes

• 1. Provide a clean and well-maintained environment for tourists to create a positive impression and make them feel comfortable.
  
  
• 2. Offer a wide range of services and amenities, such as different types of accommodation and activities, to attract a diverse range of customers.
  
  
• 3. Tailor tour packages to the specific interests and preferences of American tourists, such as eco-tourism, adventure and luxury, by offering a wide range of activities and excursions that align with those interests.
  
  
• 4. Highlight the unique cultural and historical aspects of Malaysia to provide an immersive and educational experience for American tourists.
  
  
• 5. Provide excellent customer service to create a positive image of Malaysia and encourage repeat visits.
  
  
• 6. Promote business through word of mouth by providing excellent service and going above and beyond to meet the needs of customers.
  
  
• 7. Be flexible and open to feedback and suggestions from American tourists to continuously improve tour packages and services.
  
  
• 8. Keep up to date with the latest trends and developments in the American tourism market to stay competitive.
  
  
• 9. Network and collaborate with other tour operators and industry professionals to gain insight and share best practices.
  
  
• 10. Continuously measure and evaluate the effectiveness of the tour packages, and make necessary changes to improve them.

Overall, Alex Hormozi’s advice to entrepreneurs in the Malaysian tourism industry highlights the importance of providing a clean and well-maintained environment, offering a wide range of services and amenities, and promoting businesses through word of mouth. By following these strategies, tourism businesses can attract more American customers and build a strong reputation in the industry

To know more how to promote your services and packages in US market , I will be sharing more tips at https://tourismgamechanger.com/nets

WHY AMERICAN TOURISTS PREFER TO GO TO THAILAND INSTEAD OF MALAYSIA ???

If I ask any of Malaysian this question , most probably they will say ,its because of SEX ,WOMEN or STRIP BAR which are easily available in Thailand and not in Malaysia . Some of us will also say it because of CANNABIS are allowed in Thailand and not in Malaysia ..and we think thats the reason why American tourist prefer to go to Thailand instead to Malaysia.

….but if i ask this questions to any American travel agents, they will reply with the below reasons :

1. Beautiful beaches: Thailand has many beautiful beaches with crystal clear water and white sandy shores, making it an ideal place for beach lovers.
   
2. Affordable prices: Thailand is generally an affordable country to visit, with relatively low prices for accommodation, food, and other necessities.
   
3. Rich culture: Thailand has a rich and unique culture that attracts many visitors. There are many temples, palaces, and other cultural sites to visit, as well as opportunities to experience traditional Thai music, dance, and other forms of entertainment.
   
4. Friendly people: Thai people are known for their hospitality and friendly nature, which makes visitors feel welcome and at home.
   
5. Delicious food: Thailand is renowned for its delicious food, with a wide range of dishes to choose from, including curries, noodles, and tropical fruits.

Let’s check out the survey done by BBC why are thousands of Americans flying to Thailand which is the other side of the world, and facing long layovers in foreign airports, when there are other easier-to-reach sunny spots closer to home such as Mexico and European ?

REASON no 1 : Thailand Is Much Cheaper Than Other Sunny Spots In The Western Hemisphere

Even though LUXURY TRAVEL is on the rise , many of them are actively seeking cheaper alternatives to the overpriced beaches of Mexico and Europe, even if that means longer, more complicated journeys and places where they can still indulge in some luxury, but at a much lower cost. As it turns out, Thailand is very affordable to visit.

In general, Thailand is  65% less expensive than the U.S.: when staying a whole month, guests can expect to pay an average of USD $742, as opposed to USD $2,112

REASON no 2 : Thailand Has Vast Cultural Wealth

Thailand’s natural wonders and millennia-old culture precede it: from spotless beaches made famous   by Hollywood classics to intricately-built, historical Buddhist temples to open-air markets where mouth-watering street food can be sampled, it has enough points of interest to keep visitors busy for weeks on end.

REASON no 3 : One of Thailand’s strongest assets is NATURE

According to the survey , nearly 60% of travelers in 2023 will be looking to completely disconnect from their phones and explore the great outdoors when vacationing abroad, and Thailand’s tropical forests and crystal clear coastline is surely a good starting point.

REASON no 4 : Rich Cultural Experience

Now more than ever, vacationers are also favoring deeper cultural immersions, and staying safe behind the walls of their gated villas or resorts is NO LONGER an enticing thought for some. Thailand is ready to accommodate their needs, offering a whole range of off-path activities that will help Americans understand the Thai way of life a bit better.

The survey asserted that travelers’ priorities moving forward are CULTURAL and SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL .

91% of Americans and Europeans crave ‘culture and heritage’, and 72% are environmentally-conscious.

To the American tourist , Thailand is a PERFECT DESTINATION for the above reasons..

now , do you think MALAYSIA can offer the same ?? If we can , why are we behind in American tourist arrivals compare to Thailand ?? Any logical reason beside lack of MARKETING BUDGET ?

We all know that Malaysia too can offer fantastic cultural experience through homestay in Malaysia.

According to wikipedia statistic , more than 462,000 American visits Thailand in 2022 as of 31st December 2022. I was told that Malaysia received estimate 100,000 American tourists last year .. so why the difference ? Why are we behind in numbers of American tourist arrival comparing to Thailand ?

Are we not market Malaysia enough or was it not many flight available to Malaysia?? or are we not attractive enough for Americans to visit Malaysia ?? What do you think?? This year’s mission :Can we improve the number of tourist arrival from US ??

Please share your thought in the comments column below :

What is BLACK SWAN event ?

Have you seen a black swan lately ??? White Swan is common but Black Swan is very rare ..

According to Wikipedia ,BLACK SWAN events is a “metaphor” that describes an event that comes as a surprise, has a major effect, and is often inappropriately rationalized after the fact with the benefit of hindsight.

A black swan event is a term used to describe a highly improbable and unpredictable event that has severe consequences. Black swan events are often characterized by their extreme rarity, their severe impact, and the widespread disbelief that they can occur.

In other words, Black Swan event is unexpected shocks that can cause catastrophic damage to economies such as tourism industry.

Yes, black swan events can have significant effects on the tourism industry

A recent example of Black Swan event was the Covid-19 pandemic.

Many countries implemented travel restrictions and border closures, which led to a significant decrease in international travel. The tourism industry was also affected by the economic downturn that resulted from the pandemic, as many people had to cut back on discretionary spending.

The global tourism industry has been in an unprecedented severe crisis for the past three years that fits “the Black Swan” theory, developed by the American economist Professor Nassim Nicholas Taleb.

Although there have been people warning for the past 20 years about lethal viruses that could result in a global pandemic, the pandemic COVID-19, which has affected the world since January 2020, was unforeseen and for which no one planned.

The unpreparedness of humanity as a whole turned the current pandemic into an extraordinary extreme event that utterly changed society and severely damaged economic sectors worldwide.

Black swan events have far-reaching consequences for the tourism industry. They can lead to a decrease in travel demand, disruptions to supply chains and the movement of goods, and a decrease in the availability of tourism-related services. These effects can be especially pronounced in regions that rely heavily on tourism as a key source of economic activity

The World Tourism Organisation estimates the tourism industry’s losses during the pandemic at $4 trillion, and there is no end on the horizon.

In 2020, the tourism industry in Malaysia was greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in a ‘black swan event’.

The effects of this event rippled throughout all areas of the industry, from small destination businesses to large international agencies. The sudden stop of inflow of tourists as well as prohibition of flights caused negative ripple effects to many tourism-based businesses in Malaysia. Hotels and resorts were drastically impacted, with occupancy rates dropping dramatically due to a decrease in local visitors and foreign travelers.

Similarly, restaurants experienced vastly reduced numbers of patrons while tour operators saw cancellations for both domestic and international trips.

Global tourism experienced a 4% upturn in 2021, compared to 2020 (415 million versus 400 million). However, international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) were still 72% below the pre-pandemic year of 2019, according to preliminary estimates by UNWTO. This follows on from 2020, the worst year on record for tourism, when international arrivals decreased by 73%

The Malaysian government responded with numerous strategies aimed at mitigating these losses and supporting struggling businesses during the pandemic such as introducing travel subsidies programs such as e voucher to boost travel.

Additionally, digitalization initiatives have been implemented across industries, providing a platform for virtual conferences events to ensure Malaysian businesses remain competitive during this period. Despite all efforts to revive the economy after the black swan event, it may take years before the tourism sector will fully recover from the shockwaves caused in 2020.

According to United Nation World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), global tourism will recover in 2024 at the earliest..

The question is : What if there is another BLACK SWAN event in 2023 ?? Will our Malaysian tourism industry survive ???

Predictions for 2023 suggest that tourism might not fully recover to pre-pandemic levels as we continue to feel the ripple effects of this global crisis.

Economists are in consensus that Malaysia will likely dodge a recession this year.

Unexpected shocks that can cause catastrophic damage to economies as referred to “Black Swan” event could happen in 2023. Such as:

1. Some possible Black Swans Event could be an escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war if Nato is somehow dragged into the conflict, or a military flare-up in the Taiwan straits between China and Taiwan, and the US.
   
2. Any such scenario would crash global stock markets, and precipitate a surge in oil and gas prices, fuelling inflation and more aggressive interest rate hikes.
   
3. Or there could be the emergence of a deadly Covid variant that plunges the world into lockdowns once again.
   

If due to above happens , there will be a political unrest or a resurgence of the virus, this would have an even larger effect on areas dependent on international tourism such as Malaysia.

Destination businesses and tour operators would be forced to adapt their operations in order to survive these new conditions while travelers may face new challenges when attempting to book flights or find accommodation within certain countries.

The other possible scenario is a drastic drop in global demand for travel due to extreme economic uncertainty or fear. With budgets shrinking and people being more cautious with their spending, immediate short-term recovery strategies may not be enough to boost tourist numbers and keep businesses profitable in Malaysia.

While no one can predict exactly what will happen during 2023, it is important that those involved in Malaysian tourism continue preparing for worst case scenarios and have plans in place should another ‘black swan event’ occur.

In order for the tourism industry in Malaysia to survive from another potential BLACK SWAN EVENT, there are several steps that need to be taken.

First, the Malaysian government must provide support to affected industries by introducing financial aid and subsidies for struggling businesses. This could include tax relief or grants for funding digital transformation initiatives. Additionally, visa waivers and travel discounts should be offered in order to encourage more visitors to come and explore the country during uncertain times. The authority also need to relook or revisit the overburdened and redundant regulation. It will assist the players to survive from the crisis.

Secondly, tourism-dependent businesses should begin investing in digitalization and transformation initiatives in order to remain competitive in an ever-evolving marketplace. Relying on traditional methods of promotion such as print ads is no longer enough; instead companies must consider utilizing new technologies like virtual events, video streaming services, and social media platforms.

Finally, it is important that all parties work together towards recovery so that when another black swan event arises they will be prepared. Building relationships with other countries within different regions can help form agreements which grant access to markets beyond local borders while collaborating with other Malaysian companies within the same industry will ensure clear communication channels are available during difficult times.

Investing in digital transformation initiatives and implementing measures which make destinations more appealing for traveler, such as increasing safety procedures or offering discounts and incentives, will ensure all parties remain competitive despite uncertain times ahead.

I would recommend every tourism players to look into and find ways how to improve in these 4 areas :

1. Products
   
2. Marketing
   
3. Distribution
   
4. Database

or i call it “PM Di Da” as a short form

It is important for the tourism industry to know the above formula and for those who are interested to know more , please log in at https://tourismgamechanger.com/nets

Know the latest strategy at https://tourismgamechanger.com/nets

Camping industry in Malaysia has become more popular in recent months since the pandemic covid 19 .

That’s why so many entrepreneurs are venturing into in this industry . We can also see a lot of shops are selling camping equipments nowadays.

Why Malaysia is suitable for camping industry ?

Malaysia is a country with a diverse range of landscapes, from mountains and forests to beaches and islands, which provides a variety of options for camping enthusiasts. The country also has a warm tropical climate, which makes it an attractive destination for outdoor activities such as camping. In addition, the growth of the tourism industry in Malaysia may have contributed to the increased popularity of camping in the country.

Due to the unfortunate tragedy of Batang Kali , most of the local council and state government has announced a freeze on all outdoor recreational activities during this season.. but there come a time where camping activities will be allow again …. and we all know that camping business can become lucrative and there will be more campsites to be open ..

….. but wait !!! Before you want invest and operate CAMPSITE, please read my opinions on how to improve the safety of a campsite against landslides.

1. Choose a suitable location for camping sites : We know that there are so many suitable potential sites in Malaysia but when selecting a campsite, it is important to choose a location that is on stable ground and is not prone to landslides. This may require conducting a thorough risk assessment of the area and consulting with local authorities or experts to identify potential hazards.
   
2. Implement proper erosion control measures: With vast development in Malaysia’s countryside , there are tendency of erosions …Erosion can weaken the ground and make it more prone to landslides. To prevent erosion, campsites can implement measures such as retaining walls, vegetation, and erosion-resistant materials.
   
3. Monitor and maintain the campsite: Regularly inspecting and maintaining the campsite can help to identify and address potential hazards before they become a problem. This may involve maintaining trails, roads, and other infrastructure, as well as ensuring that campsites are clean and well-maintained. You may need to appoints own RANGERS to supervise the campsite area.
   
4. Develop an evacuation plan: In the event of a landslide, it is important to have a plan in place to ensure the safety of campers. This may include identifying safe evacuation routes, establishing an emergency communication system, and providing training to staff and campers on how to respond to a landslide.
   
5. Provide education and information: Providing education and information to campers about the risks of landslides and how to stay safe can help to reduce the likelihood of accidents and injuries. This may include posting warning signs, distributing informational materials, and conducting drills or training sessions.
   

I have to emphasize that nobody can predict NATURAL DISASTER but with all the precaution steps , the campsites operators can minimise any untoward incidents. In Tourism we have a saying that says .. GOOD SAFETY MEANS GOOD BUSINESS.

Currently  local councils do not have specific conditions for camping activities because it usually is a side activity conducted by the land owners but I am pleased to know that Selangor State Government are taking one step to move forward and will formulate guidelines on camping activities. The State Government will hold a meeting with stakeholders of camping activities after conducting a comprehensive census on the recreational activities. On behalf of tourism industry players , I am looking forward to work together with Selangor State Government on this matter.

I know that after the incidents ,all local councils are now trying to implement strict regulations on camping sites but I hope it will not burden the campsites operators financially . I agree that the regulations must be relevant and effective as SAFETY is No 1 in this industry but I hope it wont be OVER BURDEN for the operators to comply .

The incident in Batang Kali was very unfortunate.. I would like to  conveyed my deepest condolence to the families of the Batang Kali landslide victims over their loss. It is a difficult moment for the families but I hope families of the victims to remain strong and calm in facing their loss.