GEORGE TOWN: Exotic destinations like Everest Base Camp in Tibet, Antarctica, Kenya, and other parts of Africa and South America are soaring in popularity thanks to the stronger ringgit currency.
Ham said the rise in demand for such destinations was also due to more direct flights accessing these locations and people valuing such important moments of their lives after years of lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She explained that while usually these niche destinations are beyond the budget of most people, many are willing to pay the premium price for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents president, Nigel Wong, said while some travellers are still cautious of the economy, the strengthening of the ringgit is expected to change the trend in the coming year. "For domestic tourism, Wong said it remains very strong with a sales turnover of nearly RM40mil over the fair's three-day period."Both Sabah and Sarawak were highly popular, and so was Selangor as a domestic destination," he said.