Latest from Malaysia Sun
Malaysia Sun
6 hours ago
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
Roundup: Indonesia ramps up global tourism promotion to attract more int'l tourists
JAKARTA, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia is strengthening its promotional efforts to tap into the growing global tourist market, as the Southeast Asian archipelago continues to struggle to catch up with neighboring countries in attracting international visitors. Last year, Indonesia received around 14 million foreign tourists, while Singapore welcomed 16.5 million, Malaysia 25 million, Vietnam 17.6 million, and Thailand 35.5 million. According to data from Statistics Indonesia, the majority of foreign tourists in 2024 came from Malaysia, followed by Australia, Singapore, China, and Timor-Leste. This year, the country is targeting 14 to 16 million foreign tourist arrivals to boost foreign exchange and encourage economic growth through the tourism sector. Several popular tourist destinations in Indonesia, including the island resort of Bali, the Borobudur Temple in Central Java, and Raja Ampat in the easternmost region of Papua, all offer stunning views. Meanwhile, some of the leading entry points for foreign tourists to Indonesia are Batam in the Riau Islands Province, located near Singapore and Malaysia, as well as Bali and Jakarta. In a bid to increase the global competitiveness of Indonesian tourism, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said recently that the government is committed to further strengthening its promotional efforts in international markets. Moreover, the ministry has undertaken several diplomatic initiatives to boost the country's tourism industry. Late last month, Indonesia's Tourism Ministry and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation. "The MoU is expected to increase the exchange of visits between the two countries, specifically through facilitating promotional activities carried out by the government and business actors," Wardhana said last week at the ministry. She added that advancing the Indonesian tourism industry requires a strong spirit of collaboration and collective commitment among ministries, institutions, and friendly countries, with the hope that tourism can become an economic and social force that benefits the entire community. Indonesia also held bilateral meetings with several countries during the 123rd session of the UN Tourism Executive Council, which took place in Spain late last month. The ministry discussed collaboration opportunities with several nations, including Spain, India, Mexico, and Tunisia, during the forum. "We will continue to move forward with the principles of sustainability, inclusiveness, and global competitiveness, while ensuring that the growth of this sector aligns with efforts to preserve culture and the environment," she added.
Malaysia Sun
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
RAK Ruler receives Ambassador of Malaysia
WAM 19 Jun 2025, 18:10 GMT+10 RAS AL KHAIMAH, 19th June, 2025 (WAM) -- H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, received today at his palace in Saqr bin Mohammed City, Tengku Sirajuzzaman Bin Tengku Mohamed Ariffin, Ambassador of Malaysia to the UAE, who came to greet him. H.H. Sheikh Saud welcomed the ambassador and his accompanying delegation, discussing ways to strengthen close cooperation between the UAE and Malaysia across various sectors. The meeting also included discussions on several topics of mutual interest. For his part, the Malaysian Ambassador expressed his gratitude to H.H. Sheikh Saud for the warm hospitality, praising the strong bilateral relations between the two countries and the ongoing developmental progress in Ras Al Khaimah.
Malaysia Sun
16 hours ago
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
International trade must be transparent, predictable
KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Xinhua) -- International trade must be governed by transparent rules and legal predictability, not by unilateralism or coercive economic measures, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said here on Thursday. In his keynote speech at the 38th Asia-Pacific Roundtable (APR) held in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar said that strengthening multilateralism through ASEAN and engaging with a diverse range of partners, such as China, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and BRICS, will help countries seeking constructive cooperation to weather the storm of geopolitical tensions. "The imposition of unilateral tariffs by the U.S. is a significant challenge to our nation and the region as we are deeply plugged into global supply chains. International trade must be governed by transparent rules and legal predictability, not by unilateralism or coercive economic measures," he said. "Malaysia's strategy of active non-alignment is a deliberate and principled framework, designed to maximize strategic flexibility, preserve decision-making autonomy, and engage all partners on our own terms... Malaysia has reached out to like-minded partners in the Global South to bridge regions, build collective resolve and promote shared prosperity," he added. Anwar also stressed the importance of avoiding bloc confrontation, emphasizing that dialogue and engagement are the only ways to ensure continued economic growth and stable relations between nations. "The future of this region lies not in hardened blocs or fragile balances, but in a security architecture that is inclusive, predictable, and anchored in rules, one in which active non-alignment is not merely tolerated but enabled to thrive," he said. The APR, which runs from June 17 to June 19, is the signature international conference of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia.
Malaysia Sun
16 hours ago
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
Malaysia's domestic visitor expenditure soars 22.1 pct in Q1
Xinhua 19 Jun 2025, 18:45 GMT+10 KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia's domestic tourism expenditure for the first quarter of 2025 recorded 29.4 billion ringgit (6.9 billion U.S. dollars), an increase of 22.1 percent year-on-year, official data showed Thursday. The Department of Statistics Malaysia said in a statement that the number of domestic visitors in Malaysia also experienced a significant surge to record 69.7 million visitors for the first quarter of 2025, rising 18.9 percent as compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, for quarter-on-quarter comparison, domestic visitors went up 4.3 percent as compared to the fourth quarter of 2024. (1 ringgit equals 0.23 U.S. dollars)
Malaysia Sun
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
(SP)BRUNEI-BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN-KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
WUSHI, Taiwan: Inspired by how Ukraine has used sea drones effectively against Russia in the Black Sea, Taiwan is learning how to use...
