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Malaysia Records Big Increase In Tourist Arrivals
Tourist arrivals in Malaysiaduring the first eight months of the year recorded 10.4 million, an increase of 68 percent over the corresponding period of last year, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said Monday. "This achievement (the number of tourist arrivals during the period) is extremely encouraging," the deputy prime minister told reporters after launching the national-level World Tourism Day 2004 here.
There were 6.17 million and 8.97 million foreign tourists visiting Malaysia in the first eight months last year and the yearbefore, respectively. Impressed with the achievement, Najib said that he was optimistic that the target of 13.3 million tourist arrivals this year could be easily achieved or even exceeded. Najib, representing Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, attend the World Tourism Day 2004 event. The prime minister is nowin New York to deliver his maiden speech at the 59th Session of the United Nations general assembly.
Najib said that the tourist arrivals during the January-August period this year were also almost the same as last year's total number of tourists arrivals, recorded at 10.58 million. "This shows that this year is a very successful year in terms of our efforts to promote the expansion of the tourism industry," he said. He said that so far, the tourism sector contributed 10 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) but he was confidentthat it would increase from year to year. Najib said a major factor for the huge increase in tourist arrivals in the country was the Tourism Ministry's aggressive promotion campaigns including overseas missions by the minister, deputy minister and officials to sell Malaysia.
The positive image of the country, where terrorism does not pose a threat, was seen as contributing to the increase in tourists coming to the country, he said. "Another is the frequency of flights and better flight connections to Malaysia," he added. The tourism sector is Malaysia's significant foreign exchange earner. The Southeast country targets 15 million foreign tourist arrivals and 30 million ringgit (7.89 billion US dollars) in foreign exchange earnings for 2004.
KUALA LUMPUR 27/09/2004
