A major resort company in the Genting Highlands has apologised to more than three hundred Chinese tourists after they protested at the misconduct of some hotel staff.

Some 340 tourists from China were outraged when three staffers at the First World Hotel drew caricatures of pigs on the back of their breakfast vouchers on Tuesday.

"There was misconduct by a few staff which offended the Chinese tourists and this led to protests by the tourists to the management," said Anthony Yeo, spokesman for Resorts World, which runs the hotel and five others, as well as the Genting Casino.

Following the incident the tourists, including children, gathered in the hotel lobby and sang patriotic songs in a protest which lasted more than five hours.

The matter was finally resolved when the tourists, who have since left the country, were offered an apology.

"We held a dialogue with the tour leaders and with the assistance of the Chinese embassy, we publicly apologised to the Chinese tourists and gave the assurance that severe disciplinary action would be taken against the staff," Yeo told AFP , adding that some staff could face dismissal.

While Yeo refused to comment on the drawings, references to pigs are considered offensive in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

Second largest foreign arrivals

Yeo said that Chinese arrivals, which make up 11 percent of staying guests overall, were the second largest foreign arrivals and "they are very important to us."

"With this explanation and public apology it should not affect bilateral relations and neither should it affect the arrivals of tourists," he said, stressing that it was an isolated incident.

Tourism is Malaysia's second-largest foreign exchange earner, grossing about RM30 billion in 2004 from 15 million visitors.