Date: 30 December 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. 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. The report rated Malaysia ninth based on international tourists
arrival, with 24.7 million foreign tourists last year.
“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 ranking,” he said.
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