25 mil tourists visited Malaysia in 2012

A total of 25,032,708 foreign tourists visited Malaysia last year, surpassing the figure of 24,714,324 arrivals in 2011.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the total tourist arrivals yielded RM60.6 billion in revenue in 2012 compared with RM58.3 billion in the previous year.

She said the double digit growth in tourist arrivals was largely contributed by Iraq, Nepal, the Philippines, China, Japan, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia and Kazakhstan.

"The Asean market contributed the most number of tourists with 75.1 per cent following various competitive offers by low-cost carriers such as Air Asia,

Mandala Airlines, SEAir and Tiger Airways besides the existence of new tourism products such as the Johor Premium Outlet and the Legoland Theme Park," she said.

Dr Ng disclosed this to reporters after attending the 'My Beautiful Malaysia' programme, at the Teluk Bahang National Park, here today.

She said the growth in tourist arrivals was in line with the target of the Malaysian Tourism Plan 2020 to achieve 36 million tourist arrivals and a tourism revenue of RM168 billion by the year 2020.

Ng said Malaysia targeted a total of 26 million tourist arrivals this year and her ministry would implement an effective strategy to woo more tourists to stay longer in this country.

Meanwhile, 10,000 people participated in the voluntary programme officiated by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.