Malaysia launches Rs 120 mn campaign to woo Indian tourists

Bangalore, Mar 1 (UNI) Malaysia today announced the launch of a Rs 120 million campaign to woo Indian tourists.

Talking to newspersons here, Tourism Malaysia Deputy Director General Mirza Mohammad Taiyab Beg said Malaysia, celebrating its golden jubilee year of independence next year, aimed at attracting over 3,50,000 Indian tourists by 2007 from the 1,87,918 in 2005.

Claiming that Malaysia was the second nation with maximum number of overseas tourists, next only to China, he said 'Visit Malaysia Year 2007' campaign launched today was a marketing and promotion prelude to 2007. The Tourism Ministry aimed at attracting over 20 million global visitors through similar campaigns.

Mr Mirza said the inflow of tourists in Malaysia had grown more than three fold to 16.4 million in 2005 since 1998 when it was only 5.5 million.

To a question, he said Malaysia would announce new rules for issue of tourist visa on March four in Chennai.

Mr Mirza is currently leading a 37-member delegation from tourism-related industries in Malaysia to captalise on the growth in the Indian outbound sector.

UNI MSP GD TS1812