Contact: Ginny Ceballos
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Website: www.tourismmalaysiausa.com or www.tourismmalaysian.ca

Kuala Lumpur In Top 5 Ranking For Highest Tourist Arrivals

Kuala Lumpur ranked fifth in Euromonitor International’s recent report on Top City Destination Ranking 2009, ahead of such popular destinations such as Paris, Hong, Kong, New York City, and Dubai. The city recorded 9,400,000 tourist arrivals in 2009.

The report showed that while total arrivals to 100 of the world’s cities fell by 3.5% due to the global economic crisis, Kuala Lumpur recorded an increase of 5.2% in tourist arrivals compared to the previous year.

In its report, Euromonitor International expects cities in emerging markets to continue to steal a share of global arrivals, especially in Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa. This shift will be accelerated by the expansion of low cost carriers and rising middle classes that are traveling in greater numbers, especially intra-regionally. Cities serving as main airport hubs are expected to benefit from this regional movement, namely São Paulo, Johannesburg and Kuala Lumpur.

In explaining its research methodology, Euromonitor International defined “international tourists” as any person visiting another country for at least 24 hours, for a period not exceeding 12 months, and staying in collective or private accommodation. Each arrival is counted separately and includes people traveling more than once a year and people visiting several countries during one holiday. Domestic visitors were excluded.

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