KUCHING: Tourism Malaysia expects to generate RM36.8 million in revenue this year from bird watching activities.
Tourism Malaysia deputy director general Zulkifly Md Said said the target can be achieved as a total of 5,663 foreign birdwatchers are expected to visit Malaysia until the end of the year.
“Bird watching packages in Malaysia are provided by seven birdwatching operators.
“The packages offer minimum tour of four days and three nights up to 21 days with price ranging between RM3,500 and RM10,000 per package.
“Based on the estimation provided by the Ecotourism Conservation Society of Malaysia (Ecomy), Malaysia Nature Society (MNS) and local birding operators, with an average package price per person of RM6,500, Malaysia is expecting to generate at last RM36.8 million from the bird watching industry by end of this year,” he said during the launch of the first Bird Malaysia website (www.birdsmalaysia.my) at the 10th Asian Bird Fair 2019 in Kuching Waterfront, yesterday.
Zulkifly believed Malaysia has great potential to be developed as the ultimate bird watching paradise because of its location and biodiversity.
“Malaysia has over 795 bird species. The variety of climates and habitats are the factors on why our nation is extremely rich in biodiversity and bird species including hornbills, eagle, kingfishers, spiderhunters and egrets.
“Our country is strategically located on the path of East Asia-Australasian Flyway that provides strategic and important resting sites for migratory birds flying between wintering sites in Southeast Asia and Australia and the breeding sites in China, Japan, Korean, Mongolia and Siberia,” he said.
He revealed the number of tourists coming in this year from January to June 2019 had increased compared to the same period last year.
“From January till June 2019, the total tourist arrivals recorded 13.35 million, a growth of 4.9 per cent compared to the same period last year, generating tourism revenue of RM41.69 billion,” he added.
Calling on the private and public sectors to synergise more efforts and resources in expanding birding industry, he said such niche product could place Malaysia on the birdwatchers’ map as another great destination for birdwatching and Visit Malaysia Year 2020 campaign.
