Tourism expected to fall 9.3% in 2009
The government said today it expects tourism numbers to fall 9.3 percent to 20 million this year as the worldwide economic slowdown hits.
The government said today it expects tourism numbers to fall 9.3 percent to 20 million this year as the worldwide economic slowdown hits.
Tourism Minister Azalina Othman Said said that arrivals would fall from the 22.05 million recorded in 2008, and that to compensate there would be a push to stimulate domestic tourism.
Azalina said she would make a proposal to the Finance Ministry to allocate RM400 million for a stimulus package to be spent on tourism attractions throughout the country.
"We want to focus on better maintenance of our current tourism products," she said according to the official news agency Bernama .
Tourism was Malaysia's second highest foreign exchange earner in 2007, raking in RM14 billion in revenue from 21 million tourist arrivals.
- AFP
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.