MALAYSIAN TOURISM MINISTRY OPENS FACEBOOK ACCOUNT TO FURTHER PROMOTE TOURISM

KUALA LUMPUR, May 19 (Bernama) -- The Tourism Ministry created the Facebook
account "Citrawarna 1Malaysia" because it is aware of the social networking
site's potential to promote popular locations in Malaysia to visitors, said its
minister Ng Yen Yen.

"We know that we are now at this social media era and we have to keep with
the times. Our target (in using the application) are young people and we
encourage them to go the site and share their experiences with others," she said
after launching the "Citrawarna 1Malaysia" Facebook account here Wednesday.

The application created in conjunction with the annual Citrawarna 1Malaysia
event which will take place at Dataran Merdeka on Saturday is to enable the
public to access the ministry's www.facebook.com/cuticuti1malaysia site and
participate in various contests in the form of dance games.

The participant with the highest score as of the end of June gets to win an
iPad while there will also be 10 consolation winners who will be given vouchers
to dine at Saloma Bistro.

Ng added that the Facebook feature was part of the ministry's transformation
plans to further improve its delivery system.