Lexis Hotels & Resorts Announces New Developments Amid Rising Tourist Arrivals [Lexis Hibiscus 2]

KUALA LUMPUR: Lexis Hotels & Resorts Sdn Bhd has announced the opening of two new hotels with a combined gross development value (GDV) of approximately RM1.22 billion, capitalizing on the resurgence of tourist arrivals.

According to President Datuk Mandy Chew Siok Cheng, the GDV for Imperial Lexis Kuala Lumpur, located in the city center, is RM720 million. Lexis Hibiscus 2, with a GDV of RM500 million, will be situated next to the existing Lexis Hibiscus in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.

“Imperial Lexis Kuala Lumpur is set to welcome guests soon, while Lexis Hibiscus 2 is expected to be completed within five years,” Chew stated in an interview with Bernama.

Chew also noted that Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson has seen a significant increase in guest numbers, particularly in the post-Covid-19 period.

“Our annual New Year's celebration at Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson attracted over 2,000 guests, doubling the previous year’s attendance of roughly 1,000 guests,” she added.

Lexis Hibiscus 2 will feature over 1,000 rooms, each with a private pool, similar to the existing Lexis Hibiscus. The new development is anticipated to attract around 400,000 tourists to Port Dickson annually, generating RM240 million per year. Of this revenue, 20% will be allocated to the state government and the local community in return for the 32 hectares of land provided for the project.

Chew also announced that the 2024 New Year celebration will be held at Imperial Lexis Kuala Lumpur. This luxury hotel will feature 275 rooms and suites, each equipped with a private pool—a first for Kuala Lumpur.

Tourism Malaysia Deputy Director-General (Promotion) Datuk Musa Yusof has expressed optimism about the country's tourism sector, predicting a full recovery by 2024. He anticipates that tourist arrivals will surpass pre-Covid-19 levels, driven by improved flight connectivity and increased visitors from China and India.

Malaysia has revised its full-year forecast upwards by 18.63% to 19.1 million tourist arrivals, up from the initial forecast of 16.1 million, following a notable increase to 14.4 million arrivals in the first nine months of 2023.

Since transitioning from the Covid-19 phase to the endemic phase, Malaysia saw a rebound in tourist arrivals, reaching 10.1 million in 2022. The country had received 26.1 million international visitors in 2019, but this number dropped by 83.4% to 4.33 million in 2020, and further to just 130,000 in 2021 as national borders were closed due to the pandemic.