Malaysia: World Kite Festival To Draw 200,000 Visitors

JOHOR BAHRU (Johor, Malaysia), Feb 10 (Bernama) -- About 200,000 people are expected to attend the 22nd World Kite Festival to be held near here, from Feb 22 to 26. State Tourism, Trade and Consumerism Committee chairman Tee Siew Kiong said the five-day festival would be participated by more than 1,000 kite-flyers from more than 40 countries including England, Singapore, France, China and Indonesia. He said the annual festival would also promote the southern state of Johor as a tourism destination. "The event which began as an ordinary outing, grew into an international gathering. We could make it into a signature event to attract even more tourists. "We see the registration of more than 1,000 participants comprising 200 foreign kite enthusiasts and more than 800 local players," he told reporters when officiating the pre-launch of the festival Friday evening. He said the festival was also in line with Muafakat Johor or Johorean Cooperation to bring the people closer. -- BERNAMA