MOTOR TOURISM SET TO BECOME HIGH YIELD PRODUCT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 (Bernama) -- Motor tourism is set to go on overdrive as a
new tourism product in the country.

Come December, a task force is scheduled to meet to chart out a roadmap to
develop the sector, said Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen.

To extensively develop motor tourism in the country, she said key industry
players, including Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), would be roped in to
study ways to fuel the sector.

Already, the country had in place, good infrastructure such as highways, and
comparatively cheaper fuel price, to help enhance motor tourism, she noted.

"We just need to look at how (best) to optimise this infrastrucuture and
existing tourism products such as the many homestay programmes that we have, for
the 'motorism' prospect.

"But at the same time, we also need to study and improve our weaknesses, such as
road signs," she said after launching the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show
2010 (KLIMS '10)'s advertising and promotion campaign here Thursday.

Dr Ng added that the ministry would also study the best practices from other
countries before innovatively promoting motor tourism to suite the local
prospective.

Earlier in her speech, the minister said motor tourism had the potential to
become a high yield tourism product and the KLIMS'10 could be used to promote
the sector.

KLIMS'10 will be held from Dec 3 to 12 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).
It is expected to lure about 330,000 visitors and tourists.

Highlights of the event include a 16-foot high replica of the Bumblebee
character from the Hollywood movie, 'Tranformers', and the 'Bat Mobile', as well
as the latest model of eco-friendly and hybrid vehicles.
-- BERNAMA