Malaysia’s pink deals a hit with city women

Bangalore sends the second largest number of tourists to the south Asian country which is popular for its colourful festivals and scenic beauty

Move over, male backpackers. The travellers catching the attention of tourism officials around the world these days are women. And we are not talking just about single working women, but housewives looking to take a break.

Special packages with everything that appeals to the fairer sex — from spas to shopping deals — are being offered as part of what the tourism officials describe as pink packages, with Malaysia leading from the front.

“We had close to seven lakh Indians travelling to Malaysia, of which 45 per cent were from the south. Bangalore is the second city that sends the most number of tourists,” says Manohar Periaswamy, director (India), Tourism Malaysia.

“We have a number of homemakers coming to Malaysia in specialised packages, which we call pink packages,” he said.

 

Shoppers’ paradise

Given the fact that the nation is a preferred shopping destination and naturally attractive to women, it comes as little surprise that its government wants to cash in on it.

“In April, we have a three-day shoe festival coming up which will feature the best brands in the world. Not many know that Jimmy Choo is Malaysian and he is its brand ambassador. Most brands will be available at least at a 30 per cent discount,” says Noran Ujang, acting director of international marketing division, Tourism Malaysia.

The travel agents too swear by these packages. “Since vacations are as cheap as Rs 30,000 for a four-day visit, it is within the budget of non-working women. We include spa treatments, cottage handicraft visits and even cooking classes in these packages,” says Vinay Marathe, the general manager of a Mumbai-based travel company which offers these packages.

While the single working women are open to adventure, most homemakers look to relax during the vacation. “At least 5,000 women from south India go on this trip. Chennai even has a club that does it as a yearly routine,” says Mohd Izal bin Mahd Nor, director, Tourism Malaysia.

Belinda Byford, a 30-something homemaker, recently took off with five of her closest friends to Kuala Lumpur on a five-day vacation. 

“Some of my friends are from conservative backgrounds and are cautious when they go on holiday with their families. So when we go by ourselves, they just let go and have fun. In April, we have a family vacation, and when our husbands and children are busy during the rest of the year, we take off. Since it is for a short duration, they can manage well too,” she says.