Malaysia melting pot for cultures, says tourism minister

Mumbai, Mar 1 (UNI) In order to boost tourism in Malaysia, the Malaysian government has launched a special 'VMY Passport' programme for Indians under the ''Tourism Malaysia initiative''.

Malaysia Minister of Tourism Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor made this announcement here today.

''The programme launch perfectly coincides with our 'Visit Malaysia Year 2007' campaign that celebrates 50 years of our Independence as a nation,'' he said.

In this regard, Tourism Malaysia, in a special effort will promote the country as a tourist destination across the world and particularly India, he said.

He said Tourism Malaysia would undertake the visit Malaysia campaign to attract 4,00,000 tourists from India as compared to 3,00,000 last year and has earmaked a budget of Rs 25 crore to develop the market further.

Mansor said the ''VMY Passport'' programme is a unique concept launched for the first time for Indian travellers in educating and simultaneously availing preferentail cost on Malaysian tourism products and servicves directly.

He said Malaysia is a melting pot for different cultures because of its great ethnic population consisting of Chinese, Indians and Malays, and this adds to the colour of tourism.

Malaysia would celebrate more than 240 events during the year.

However, 50 have been selected to represent the best that Malaysia has to offer. This, he said, was in line with the theme ''Celebrating 50 years of Nationhood''.

The 'Malaysia International Aerospace Exhibition' from June 5 to August 7, the first of its kind to be held in Malaysia, will highlight the Buran space shuttle, the only authentic space shuttle to go on public display, he said.

Masor said at present India ranks seventh in the flow of tourists to Malaysia where as Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprising, Singapore, Vietnam and Philipines together contribute 80 per cent of tourism as a result of easy air, sea and land links.

Masor said Malaysia expects to generate 200 million dollar only from Indian tourism this year, an increase of 40 million dollar in comparison to last year, under the Tourism Malaysia intiative.

UNI