MSIA'S TOURISM MINISTRY URGES AIRLINES TO HAVE DIRECT FLIGHTS TO ZHENGZHOU

From Winnie Seow Mei

ZHENGZHOU, June 14 (Bernama) -- The Tourism Ministry would look into
arranging direct flights to Zhengzhou from Malaysia, said its minister Dr Ng Yen
Yen.

She said Zhengzhou could act as a transportation hub, which when completed
with its high-speed railway facilities, would allow tourists to travel to many
othe r districts in China.

"Direct flights will encourage tourists from China to travel to Malaysia and
vice versa," she said, adding that Malaysia, meanwhile, could also act as the
tourism centre for China tourists who want to travel within the Asean region.

"I will urge Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia to open up new routes to fly to
Zhengzhou," she told Bernama, here, Sunday.

Dr Ng, who is on a four-day working trip to China, is visiting Guangzhou
and Zhengzhou. She held dialogues with local tourism operators and attended the
International Mayor's Forum on Tourism (IMFT) in Henan on Friday.

Malaysia won the Best Video Award at the IMFT, which is being held here with
the theme, "Tourism for Better City Life" and participants from more than 50
cities worldwide to study city tourism.

Ng said the ministry targeted to achieve 1.1 million tourist arrivals
this year, which would be 10 per cent higher than the target reached last year.

She said the ministry would also focus on bilateral investment where
Malaysia's tourism operators would be given the opportunity to invest in China
and vice versa.

Dr Ng disclosed she was satisfied with the results of the trip, including
inviting a group of 400 people from China to hold a bicycle exhibition in
Malaysia in November.
-- BERNAMA


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