Date: 18 November, 2012
Malaysia among world’s top 10 tourist destinations.
Malaysia was one of the world's top 10
tourist destinations last year, making it the only South-East Asian country to
make the list in the United Nations World Trade Organisation (UNWTO) Tourism
Highlights 2012.
The report rated Malaysia ninth based on international
tourists arrival, with 24.7 million foreign tourists last year. In 2009, the
country recorded 23.6 million tourists arrival and in 2010, the number increased
to 24.6 million.
Topping the list was France with 79 million tourist
arrivals, followed by United States (62 million), China (58 million), Spain (57
million), Italy (46 million), Turkey (29.3 million), United Kingdom (29.2
million) and Germany (28.4 million). Rounding up the top 10 was Mexico with
23.4 million tourists.
The report also ranked Malaysia 14th in terms of
international tourism receipts with US$18.3bil (RM56.3bil) last year, ahead of
countries such as Singapore, Japan, the Netherlands, Korea and Canada. In 2009
and 2010, Malaysia recorded US$15.8bil (RM48.6bil) and US$18.2bil (RM55.9bil)
respectively in tourism receipts.
In congratulating tourism players for doing a good job to
promote the nation, Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA)
president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun said this was the result of hard work put in
by many people. “This is not an overnight success. We have worked hard and long
and are now finally tasting the labour of our success,” he said.
He said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, her
ministry as well as the private sector had also worked tirelessly to promote
the country. “We should not rest on our laurels but strive to further improve
our rankings,” he said.
Tourist guide Anne Molly Camoens, who has 19 years' working
experience, said it was “exciting” to hear the news as this would create more
job opportunities in the industry.
UNWTO Tourism Highlights is a World Tourism Organisation
publication which aims to provide an overview of international tourism trends.
Copyright © 1995-2012
Star Publications (M) Bhd
No comments:
Post a Comment