TOURISM NOW INCLUDED IN FIVE-YEAR PLAN AS MAJOR ECONOMIC PLAYER, SAYS NG

From Winnie Seow Mei

ZHENGZHOU, June 12 (Bernama) -- For the first time ever, the tourism industry
has been included in the country's Five-Year Plan as a major economic player,
said Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen.

She said this was because the government had now realised the importance of the
tourism industry to the country's economic development.

"Previously, the tourism industry was ranked only as a minor player in
Malaysia's economic development," she said after meeting with the chairman of
China National Tourism Administration, Shao Qiwei, here, Friday.

According to the 10th Malaysia Plan report, Malaysia targets to improve its
position to be among the top 10 countries, in terms of global tourism receipts
in 2015.

Dr Ng said the tourism industry contributed nine per cent to the country's Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) last year by generating RM1 billion in revenue per week.

"With the implementation of the liberalisation policy by the government, the
industry can achieve greater development for many tourism-related industries,"
said Dr Ng who is on a four-day working trip to Guangzhou and Zhengzhou in
China.

She said as the Chinese government had also included the tourism industry as an
economic pillar, she believed that China as a major partner for Malaysia in this
sector, could bring further development to the industry.

She also suggested that China and Malaysia set up a task force to study the
possibility of collaborating in providing tourism services through mobile
phones.

Meanwhile, Shao said the Chinese government would continue to encourage people
in the country to travel abroad.

"However, we should not only focus on two-way traffic in tourist arrivals but to
also look at the bigger picture," he said, adding that tourism had turned into a
modern service industry which also brought development to many other sectors.

Shao said the China-Asean Free Trade Agreement (FTA) also helped to promote
tourism with Asean countries.

Later, when delivering her keynote address at the International Mayors Forum on
Tourism (IMFT) in Henan, Dr Ng said Kuala Lumpur was a significant example of a
tourism city with its modern infrastructure and variety of entertainment.

"We believe that tourism does not discourage environmental protection. In fact,
tourism helps to protect eco-balance in the city," she added.

The First IMFT was held in Zhengzhou, Henan Province in April 2008.

The second IMFT, which is held here now with the theme, "Tourism for Better City
Life", has attracted the participation of more than 50 cities.

Dr Ng, who represented Malaysia, was the only representative invited to give a
keynote address at the event.
-- BERNAMA