TOURISM MINISTRY CONSIDERING GUANG ZHOU DISTRICT AS IMPORT CENTRE FOR

From Winnie Seow Mei

GUANGZHOU, June 11 (Bernama) -- The Tourism Ministry is considering making
Guangzhou district a centre for exporting Malaysian durian to China.

"Guangzhou is a huge fruit market which has great potential for fruit
export and Malaysia is yet to explore this market," she said at a dinner hosted
by Guangdong Province Tourism Administration chairman Yang Rongsen here
Thursday.

She said the short distance between Guangzhou and Malaysia was ideal for
Malaysian durian to be exported to China to ensure that the fruit maintained
its freshness.

"The ministry will work with the Agriculture and Agro-based Ministry to
discuss exporting durian to Guangzhou," she said.

Durian is a fruit widely known and revered in Southeast Asia as the "king of
fruits." The durian is distinctive for its large size, unique odour, and
formidable thorn-covered husk

Dr Ng, who is on an four-day working trip to China, is visiting Guang Zhou
and Zhengzhou. She will hold dialogues with the local tourism operators and
attend the International Mayor's Forum on Tourism (IMFT) in Henan on Friday.

Dr Ng said that with the increasing tourist arrivals from Guangzhou to
Malaysia, Malaysia Airline had doubled its daily flight from Guang Zhou to Kuala
Lumpur from one flight per day.

The Southern Airline in China had also opened up a new route from Guangzhou
to Penang with a daily flight, she added.

Dr Ng said she was informed by the Guangzhou tourism operators that the new
route had received great response the locals.

Meanwhile, Yang, in his speech, said Malaysia had emerged as a popular
destination for tourists from Guangzhou and the district was looking at working
with Malaysia in promoting the tourism industry for both sides.

"Exploring the fruit market here by importing delicious fruits such as
durian is a great idea in promoting the tourism industry as durian is the
favourite fruit of many locals here," he said.
-- BERNAMA