ID :
39903
Sat, 01/10/2009 - 19:18
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/39903
The shortlink copeid
M'SIAN TOURISM INDUSTRY ACHIEVES EXEMPLARY GROWTH By Sabarina Baharom
HANOI, Jan 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia recorded a 5.1 percent increase in tourist arrivals to 22,052,488 last year compared to 20,972,822 in 2007, Tourism Minister Azalina Othman Said said Friday.
"Despite the current global economic meltdown, the Malaysian tourism
industry has managed to achieve exemplary growth due to intensification of the
ministry's promotional efforts," she told reporters on the second day of the
29th Asean Tourism Forum here.
She said that because of the global economic challenges, the target set by
the Special Cabinet Committee on Tourism was 20 million tourists.
Last month, she said, tourist arrivals were the highest compared to the rest
of 2008. For December, 2,058,684 tourists arrived in Malaysia which was an
increase of 9.2 percent compared to 1,866,022 in December 2007, she said.
Azalina also revealed that last year, long haul markets showed the highest
percentage increase compared to 2007.
"Canada showed an increase of 65.6 percent followed by Netherlands 63.3
percent, Russia 56 percent, France 44.4 percent, Norway 43.9 percent and Germany
41.9 percent," she said.
Asked whether figures for these countries could be maintained this year
despite the global economic challenges, Azalina said a directive had been issued
for a new strategy on advertisements and promotional campaigns.
"The ministry will focus on China, Middle East and the Indian market to
compensate whatever shortage from the long haul market," she said.
She also said Singapore retained its position as the largest tourist
generating market last year. "A total of 11,003,492 tourists visited Malaysia
last year," she said.
She said Malaysia also attracted 2,428,605 tourists from Indonesia,
1,493,789 from Thailand and 1,172,154 from Brunei.
To draw more tourists from the Asean region, Azalina said the intensified
"Zoom! Malaysia" promotional campaign would be extended to these countries.
"We have extended the campaign to Singapore on Jan 1, and it will be
followed by Indonesia and Brunei," she said.
-- BERNAMA
"Despite the current global economic meltdown, the Malaysian tourism
industry has managed to achieve exemplary growth due to intensification of the
ministry's promotional efforts," she told reporters on the second day of the
29th Asean Tourism Forum here.
She said that because of the global economic challenges, the target set by
the Special Cabinet Committee on Tourism was 20 million tourists.
Last month, she said, tourist arrivals were the highest compared to the rest
of 2008. For December, 2,058,684 tourists arrived in Malaysia which was an
increase of 9.2 percent compared to 1,866,022 in December 2007, she said.
Azalina also revealed that last year, long haul markets showed the highest
percentage increase compared to 2007.
"Canada showed an increase of 65.6 percent followed by Netherlands 63.3
percent, Russia 56 percent, France 44.4 percent, Norway 43.9 percent and Germany
41.9 percent," she said.
Asked whether figures for these countries could be maintained this year
despite the global economic challenges, Azalina said a directive had been issued
for a new strategy on advertisements and promotional campaigns.
"The ministry will focus on China, Middle East and the Indian market to
compensate whatever shortage from the long haul market," she said.
She also said Singapore retained its position as the largest tourist
generating market last year. "A total of 11,003,492 tourists visited Malaysia
last year," she said.
She said Malaysia also attracted 2,428,605 tourists from Indonesia,
1,493,789 from Thailand and 1,172,154 from Brunei.
To draw more tourists from the Asean region, Azalina said the intensified
"Zoom! Malaysia" promotional campaign would be extended to these countries.
"We have extended the campaign to Singapore on Jan 1, and it will be
followed by Indonesia and Brunei," she said.
-- BERNAMA
