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Ministry: Allow Mideast Tourists to Stay Longer
The Tourism Ministry has proposed to the Immigration Department to allow tourists from the Middle East to stay two months instead of one.
Its Deputy Minister Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said those in the industry had made the request based on feedback from tourists. I don' see why they should not be allowed to stay here longer as they will bring more money into the country. Malaysia has become a favoured destination among Middle Eastern tourists, so we should do more to tap the market.
"I hope the Immigration Department will look into this request," he told reporters after launching the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) International Travel Fair here yesterday.
Zahid added that the number of tourist arrivals from the United Arab Emirates had surged by 120% in the first six months of the year while arrivals from Saudi Arabia had increased by 127%.
He said Malaysia had become an attractive place for tourists from the Middle East, especially after the Iraq war. "Last year, the frequency of flights from Middle Eastern countries to Malaysia was 46 and now the figure has increased to 116 which is still not enough. "We have asked seven carriers to use wide-bodied planes and increase the number of flights to and from Malaysia to cater to the increase in demand," he added.
Johor Bahru 5/9/2004
