MALAYSIA TO ATTRACT 36 MILLION TOURISTS BY 2020

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is targeting to achieve 36 million
tourist arrivals and RM168 billion (US$52.9 billion) in tourism receipts by
2020, said Tourism Deputy Minister Dr James Dawos Mamit.

He said the ministry had drawn up strategies to build density, develop clusters
and high-value sectors in the industry.

Events such as the Genting Trailblazer, organised by Genting Malaysia Bhd, would
befit the ministry's marketing efforts to strongly promote Malaysia's
nature-based products and activities to a growing number of
environmentally-conscious travellers, he said.

"As one of the 12 mega-biodiversity country in the World, Malaysia has a huge
potential to use these resources in a sustainable manner for wealth creation,"
he told a press conference after launching the Genting Trailblazer 2010, here
Tuesday.

In this regard, Dawos highlighted that sports and adventure tourism events such
as the Genting Trailblazer could be developed into high-value products that had
great potentials in contributing significantly towards the growth of the tourism
industry.

Meanwhile, Senior Vice President Public Relations and Communications of Genting
Malaysia Bhd Anthony Yeo said, the sixth edition of Genting Trailblazer came
with an eco-friendly theme to promote a green mindset to preserve the local
natural environment, specifically for the rainforest.

The event themed "An eco run in a million-year-old rainforest" showed that the
group was keen to showcase the wonderful bio-diversity and splendour of the
world's oldest rainforest surrounding Awana Genting Highlands, he said.

"Trailblazer is committed to the environment, echoing the Ministry's call for
1Malaysia Green, 1Malaysia Clean campaign.

"We will be working hand-in-hand with Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) to further
promote the love of nature and minimal disruption to the environment, and also
to promote 'Zero Waste' to deter the public from littering and to reuse
available resources," he added.

The two-day event to be held from Oct 30 is now open for online registration at
www.gentingtrailblazer.com or email to trailblazer@genting.com until Sept 30.
-- BERNAMA