Why Is Malaysia So Popular

[Jollygoodfellow]

What's with Malaysia? Anyone considered it as an expat location?  :89:

 

 

MANILA — Some people make airports bigger. But tourism secretary of the Philippines sees his job a bit differently.

 

“I’m in charge of congesting our airports,” said tourism chief Ramon Jimenez Jr. “…I dare not put my foot off the gas.”

 

The Philippines expected to have a record 10 million international tourists in 2016, the year that President Benigno Aquino III leaves office. The figure is more than double last year’s total 4.3 million, the first time the country broke the 4-million mark but still short of last’s 4.6 million goal.

 

It’s Mr. Jimenez’s job to hit the 10 million mark, packing the Southeast Asian country’s airports, cabs and hotels, and providing extra work for the myriad of Filipinos — from the horse carriage driver to the sidewalk masseuse — who provide services to tourists.

 

But even if Mr. Jimenez hits the mark, the country’s visitor arrivals will still pale in comparison to neighbors Thailand and Malaysia. Thailand received 22.3 million visitors while Malaysia had 25 million in 2012.

 

Mr. Jimenez said the Philippines has challenges that Thailand and Malaysia don’t. For example, 98% of visitors to the island-filled Philippines arrive by plane. A better yardstick by which to measure the Philippines, he argued, is Australia, an island that had 6.3 million visitors last year.

 

“The implication of that is if we reach 10 million by 2016, we would have overtaken not Thailand and Malaysia but Australia,” he said.

 

He also pointed out that, since virtually all international visitors to the Philippines come by air, they spend three or four times more than those that just cross the border to reach their destination, giving a bigger boost to the economy.

 

The Philippine government has identified tourism as a future driver of economic growth and has earmarked $1.3 billion to build tourism infrastructure, including more than 2,000 kilometers of roads leading to major tourism destinations. Air and sea ports are also being upgraded.

 

Mr. Jiminez said the Philippines should look at tourism as an “export business because it generates more returns than any export product.” He said the country must realize that tourism remains a competitive industry.

 

“The tourist has only one suitcase, and the next country is just one mouse click away,” he said.

 

After the launch last year of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” as the tourism campaign’s slogan, critics were quick to point out that it sound very close to the 1951 Swiss tourism slogan, “It’s more fun in Switzerland.”

 

Mr. Jimenez, who was an advertising executive before joining the government, responded to the critics: “No one can own that expression, ‘It’s more fun.’ But it’s very true for the Philippines, so it becomes ours.”

 

 

[Tukaram (Tim)]

I don't know what is so great about Malaysia but eveyone I know here in the PI's wants to go there.  :tiphat:

[i am bob]

For some, Malaysia has always been a country with mystique. One of those countries that has beautiful women but hide behind a smile and their veils. Where the men are a bit swarthy and don't hesitate to barter away the family heirlooms... That is, until they can get to their supplier and restock... It seems to be one of those surreal desert islands where adventure hides behind every corner... Amazing how far off we can be when thinking of a place far away...

For others, it is a country of great beauty and architecture. Riveting displays by some of the world's best architects mixed into an ecclectic stirred pot of both old and new..

A highly educated workforce anxious to put their skills to use. And a workforce eager for an income; this enabling a further blend of old trades and new skills to be observed side by side...

Of course, any one who ever traveled here will quickly realize that the same is also available throughout all the Philippines and in the Philippines they speak other languages - such as English - quite well!

Edited September 19, 2013 by I am bob

[johnb]

I feel the biggest attraction for a lot of expats is the Malaysia my second home visa package [mm2h],

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_My_Second_Home

 

Certainly my wife and I are considering it, there are also many other advantages, English is widly spoken, with the MM2H package we can both work, after one year use the required investment for further education or house purchase in our names, the food is fantastic, the prices other than beer reflect the same costs as the Philippines and its very foriegner and tourist friendly, we have visited the country several time and always enjoyed our stay, felt safe and welcome, my only complaint is the bartering with taxi drivers, but once you know the given fare, you can easily make a good deal, even on one occasion had a taxi wait for us while we visited an attraction and had know extra charge, just my opinion and I'm sure there are downfalls, but I see many more in the Philippines.

[robert k]

I knew a thoroughly charming woman from Malaysia, attractive, educated, hard working. She was a skilled data entry person in her birth country but she came to the US to wait tables and a small part of the American dream. I took my mother to the restaurant where she worked and my mother left her billfold with $1,400 dollars in it behind when we left. This nice lady kept it safe until I returned days later. I called Mom and had her go pick it up. The lady, Angie refused any reward until I asked her to accept it so my mother would feel better and it in no way detracted from the good deed she had done. If Malaysia is full of such people, it must be a wonderful place :) .

[MikeB]

Yes, English is widely spoken in Malaysia. It also has good infrastructure, less crime against foreigners, beautiful beaches, and friendly people. It's also more expensive. The visa plan required a monthly income of over $3200 when I checked several months ago. That weeds out a lot of riff-raff.

[joeatmanila]

Malaysia is a better country than Philippines in many aspects. I wouldn't ever live there though, I do not like living (not even visiting) a muslim in majority country.

[Mike S]

The visa plan required a monthly income of over $3200 when I checked several months ago. That weeds out a lot of riff-raff.

 

Why would someone with less than $3200 per month be considered riff-raff ..... I resemble that remark ....... :unsure:

:cheersty:

[MikeB]

Why would someone with less than $3200 per month be considered riff-raff

 

I didn't say they would be.

[jpbago]

 

The visa plan required a monthly income of over $3200 when I checked several months ago. That weeds out a lot of riff-raff.

 

Why would someone with less than $3200 per month be considered riff-raff ..... I resemble that remark ....... :unsure:

:cheersty:

 

 

Would they be " some foreigners who come to the Philippines to marry Filipino women are vagabonds or social and moral derelicts in their own country" as per G Garcia's statement?