KOTA TINGGI: The Rural Development Ministry says it is ready to work with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry to promote rural tourism products.

Deputy Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad said the cooperation encompassed creating business space or tourist space via a memorandum of understanding.

"Among the products that have the potential to be promoted are ecotourism products under the Development Authority of Johor Tenggara (KEJORA), Development Authority of Terengganu Tengah (KETENGAH) and Development Authority of Kelantan Selatan (KESEDAR).

"We can enhance our cooperation for the sake of rural tourism products," he told reporters after a briefing on the Taman Penawar Harmoni and Tanjung Buai Housing projects in Lotus Desaru, here, today.

Abdul Rahman said it is difficult to carry out efforts to attract tourists right now because of the inter-state and cross-border travel restrictions due to the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Nevertheless, he said, the ministry always ensured that tourism products continued to be promoted in anticipation of the reopening of the country's borders.

"While it is impossible to help attract tourists during the MCO, due to the inter-district, inter-state and cross-border travel restrictions, with KEJORA, for example, we have promoted products to the international level besides providing assistance to tourism product entrepreneurs," he said.

-- BERNAMA