Malaysia is hoping to attract some 20.1 million tourists in 2007, up from 15.7 million in 2004 and hopes to increase revenues by 50 percent.

The government is hoping the increased numbers of tourists will bring in a record RM44.5 billion next year, up from RM29.7 billion in 2004, Tourism Ministry secretary-general Victor Wee was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

Malaysia is planning the boost in visitor numbers to coincide with celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the country's independence.

The government had earlier set a target of 19 million tourist arrivals for next year.

Wee said he expected the bulk of the tourists to continue coming from neighbouring Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia as well as major markets like China, India, the Middle East, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

The number of Arab tourists visiting Malaysia doubled in 2004. The government, drawing on its status as a Muslim majority country, targeted some 200,000 Arab arrivals in 2005, or a 40 percent increase.

Tourism is Malaysia's second-largest foreign exchange earner.