United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
TUI to open tour operation in Malaysia
The Malaysian government has granted a licence for TUI to start a tour operation in the country.
The capital, Kuala Lumpur, will be the location for the venture, called TUI International Holidays Malaysia.
TUI said it is focusing on increasing numbers of South-East Asian guests, who are travelling more frequently and differently than in the past, and wants to grow in this region.
Destinations include both Europe and the countries of South-East Asia, where TUI already operates its own hotels and clubs in Sri Lanka, on the Maldives and in Thailand.
TUI chief development officer for new markets Frank Rosenberger said: "We are developing holiday offers which are also attractive to Asian travellers in both neighbouring countries such as Sri Lanka and Thailand, as well as the long-haul routes from Asia.
"The start of the new division in Kuala Lumpur is an important step towards addressing even more Asian customers in the future."
Rosenberger is responsible for the ‘TUI 2022’ strategy, which aims to achieve one million additional customers in new markets by 2022.
Unlike the classic TUI markets in Europe, the South-East Asia business will be ‘operated via the group’s digital platforms and together with strong partners’, TUI said.
The expansion of the TUI hotel portfolio in Asia is also progressing, said Sebastian Ebel, member of TUI AG’s executive board and CEO Hotels & Resorts, Cruises, Destination Experiences.
He said: "As a developer, investor and operator of hotels, we have a very strong position in Europe, in Mexico and in the Caribbean.
"We have started to expand in Southeast Asia and want to grow to a total of 20 or 25 hotels in the next few years.
"We also want to market our hotels in the region. The short and medium-haul destinations in the region are becoming increasingly attractive to guests from Southeast Asia, for example, our Robinson Clubs in Asia or the RIU Hotel in Sri Lanka. Here, TUI’s strong hotel brands have enormous potential."
In addition, TUI’s three cruise lines are now regularly calling at Asian ports. TUI Cruises and Marella Cruises have each stationed a ship in Singapore and Langkawi during the winter season.
Related News Stories:
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Tricia Handley-Hughes of Inteletravel announces the location for the TravelQuest 2025 conference
Insights from James Ferrara on Inteletravel’s Growth and Future
Tricia Handley-Hughes on Inteletravel’s Growth and Challenges
Tony from Gatto’s Pizza on Columbus’s Unique Pizza Trail
Sophia Hyder Hock on Global Social Inclusion in Tourism
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Woman dies after getting ‘entangled’ in baggage carousel
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Protestors now targeting Amsterdam cruise calls