Bikers Route to Lure Thai Tourists to Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- Tourism Malaysia on Sunday flagged off Thai bikers under the “Biker from Phuket” programme to promote fascinating bike rides from Phuket-Hatyai to Malaysia's northern state Penang, said a statement issued by Tourism Malaysia. The bike convoy was flagged off by Tourism Malaysia’s deputy director-general (Promotion) Abdul Khani Daud and the director of International Promotion (ASEAN) Syed Yahya Syed Othman in Ban Dannok, Sadao, Southern Thailand. The programme to promote Southern Thailand holiday packages to Malaysia will take the bikers across districts of Songkhla and Sadao in Thailand and to Bukit Kayu Hitam, in Kedah (also northern state) and Penang which is increasingly popular with the Thais. “Malaysia and Thailand share eight border land-crossing points and the route used by the bikers is regarded as another good link to further enable tourism between the two countries," said Abdul Khani adding that the bike ride is to help increase Thai visitor arrivals to Malaysia, especially from Southern Thailand. The ‘Biker from Phuket’ programme comes on the heels of the Malaysian Rail package launched in October. From January to this August, Malaysia received about 1,235,706 Thai tourists and with the bikers' route, it is targeted to encourage Thai tourists who love adventure to explore the route and experience it themselves. -- BERNAMA