Saudi tourists arrival expected to increase following King Salman's visit - Nazri

The number of tourist arrivals from Saudi Arabia is expected to increase following the maiden visit by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to the country last week.

Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said it was normal that when a leader visited a foreign country, relations between the two countries would become closer and that both countries would gain, including in terms of tourism.

"The reason being that it gives confidence that relations between the countries involved are good and close, making the people to feel comfortable to come," he told reporters after a meeting with members of the Padang Rengas Single Mothers Association here Saturday.

Mohamed Nazri said the number of tourist arrivals from Saudi Arabia showed an increase of 24 per cent last year, from 99,754 tourists in 2015 to 123,878 people last year.

On May 16 last year, the government of Malaysia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on co-operation in the field of tourism.

Through the MoU, both parties agreed to take necessary steps to encourage promotion and co-operation in the tourism sector through collaboration in research and development as well as joint training pertaining to tourism-related programmes.

Last Monday, King Salman arrived in Kuala Lumpur for a four-day state visit to Malaysia. It was His Majesty's maiden visit to Malaysia since ascending the throne on Jan 23, 2015 as the seventh King of Saudi Arabia. -- Bernama