Tourism boom in Malaysia.

Date: 14 February 2013

Tourism boom in Malaysia.

MALAYSIA - More than 25 million foreign tourists visited Malaysia last year. They also spent more time in the country compared to previous years, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said.

"I am extremely happy that the tourism industry has consistently registered growth year after year," she said. "Last year, tourist arrivals to the country were 25,032,708, which is an increase of 1.3 per cent from 2011. And tourist receipts were RM60.6 billion (S$24.2 billion) compared to RM58.3 billion in 2011," she added.

"This showed that the ministry's strategy to make tourists spend more in Malaysia was successful." Dr Ng said in the regional market, tourist arrivals from the Philippines, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Brunei and Cambodia rose between 1.4 per cent and 40.5 per cent.

However, tourist arrivals from Thailand and Singapore dropped slightly.

She said that the highest number of tourists came from China. Chinese tourist arrivals rose by 24.6 per cent.

"This year, the country's target is to bring in 26 million tourists. This is a preparation year for Visit Malaysia Year 2014 and everyone must be ready to be hosts if we are to achieve the 28 million tourist arrival target next year," she said.

By Special Projects Unit

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