TOURIST ARRIVALS NOT AFFECTED BY POLITICAL SITUATION - AZALINA

KOTA TINGGI(Malaysia), Sept 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia continues to record a healthy trend in tourist arrivals despite the negative publicity on the country's political situation abroad, Tourism Minister Azalina Othman Said said.

She said during the first eight months of this year, Malaysia recorded a
total of 14.7 million arrivals, which is about the same number recorded during
the corresponding period last year, the Visit Malaysia Year.

"On average, tourists spent about RM2,700 in the country, an increase of
3.8
per cent compared to last year," she told reporters after handing over donations
to the poor in the Pengerang parliamentary area, Friday.

Pengerang is a small custom cum immigration post in Southeast Johor,
Malaysia

Azalina, who is Pengerang member of parliament, said the arrival trend was
a
reflection of Malaysia's healthy tourism sector.

She also said that the ministry would not want to see perception about the
country's political situation affecting the industry.

"If the opposition parties keep on belittling the country, we are worried
that this will adversely affect the tourism sector. So far, this has not," she
said.

Azalina also said that the ministry would promote local attractions and
products more aggressively, with emphasis on domestic tourism.

In this respect, she said, the ministry's "Zoom!" domestic tourism
programme
would be expanded nationwide, taking the advantage of the country's diverse
tourism products and attractions.

The ministry would also continue with the programmes in states under the
opposition's rule but the question was whether the states concerned would want
to focus on the sector, she said.