The Malaysia Golf Elite Cup is just RM27,000 — and now with pre-order bonuses added!

By Li Xinyi, compiled and reported

On December 3rd, the Malaysian Tourism Board will host the five-day “Malaysia Tourism Board Golf Elite Cup.” To promote golf tourism in Malaysia, the board has partnered with industry players to offer the lowest-priced “Malaysia Tourism Board Elite Cup – 5-Day Golf” itinerary, available for just RM26,800 — nearly RM10,000 less than the market average. It sold out quickly, and from today, an additional 30 spots are being made available. Act fast to secure yours!

Influenced by the “Nini Effect,” Taiwan has seen a surge in golf enthusiasm. With approximately 2 million people playing golf — about one-tenth of Taiwan’s total population — China is the top choice for Taiwanese golfers traveling overseas (43%), followed closely by Southeast Asia (40%). Thailand has traditionally been the top Southeast Asian destination, but this year, Lion Travel is offering an exceptionally attractive package for Malaysia. The five-day itinerary includes three golf tournaments: the A’Famosa Golf Resort, venue of the 2009 World Amateur Golf Championships, and the Kota Permai Golf & Country Club, site of the Volvo Masters Open and Asian Tour events. The trip also features stays at unique resorts and a newly opened hotel near Times Square. A prize pool worth RM300,000 has been prepared to attract golf enthusiasts, sparking a wave of bookings.

Since visa-free entry was introduced in March of this year, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of Taiwanese visitors to Malaysia. Harun Pilus, Director of the Malaysian Tourism Board, stated that in the first half of 2011 alone, Taiwanese tourist arrivals grew by 3% following the visa exemption. Coupled with factors such as corporate group travel, winter getaways, and promotional offers during travel fairs in the latter half of the year, the board preliminarily estimates achieving a more than 10% year-on-year growth, surpassing 240,000 visitors. To develop new tourism markets in Malaysia, efforts will focus on promoting niche themes such as golf tourism and eco-tourism in the future.