Economic Slowdown But M'sia Still Drawing Tourists

March 14, 2009 22:23 PM

KOTA BAHARU, March 14 (Bernama) -- Although Malaysia is also feeling the effects of the global economic slowdown, foreign tourist arrivals in the country have increased.

The Tourism Ministry's deputy secretary-general Dr Junaidah Lee Abdullah said the tourism industry, the country's second most important sector, continued to show encouraging performance, especially health tourism.

"Many Indonesians come to Malaysia for our quality medical treatment and our specialist treatment is cheaper than in other countries like the United States," she said after launching the Kelantan Food Festival 2009, here, Saturday.

She said the government targeted 20 million foreign tourists to visit Malaysia this year.

"Last year, 22.05 million came, an increase of 5.1 per cent but due to the uncertain economic climate now, we are targeting 20 million this year.

"We know many markets such as the west are hard hit by the global financial crisis, so we are now focusing on regional markets like China, India and the Middle East as their people would still want to visit Malaysia."

At the same time, she said, the government was encouraging locals to visit the domestic tourism destinations.

In the mini budget announced recently, the government has allocated RM200 million for the tourism sector, especially for upgrading of popular tourist spots.

-- BERNAMA