C'WEALTH NATIONS WON'T CONTRIBUTE TO CTC EXPENDITURE AFTER 2010

From Haslinda Zainal

LONDON, Nov 13 (Bergambar) -- Commonwealth countries Wednesday decided not
to contribute towards the expenditure incurred by the Commonwealth Tourism
Centre (CTC) which has its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia after 2010.


Malaysian Tourism Minister Azalina Othman Said said this was because they
felt that the centre was a burden to them and that the United Nations World
Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) was the best organisation for it.

"We don't mind committing until 2010 if they agreed to give their
commitment to contribute. The problem is that they don't want to contribute.
However, if we insist on continuing, they will accept it but I informed tham
that Malaysia did not want to burden them if they don't want to contribute," she
told reporters after attending the Third Meeting of the Commonwealth Tourism
Ministers at Marlborough House, here Wednesday.

Azalina said the government had spent RM5.1 million (US$1=RM3.58) to
set up the office and carry out operations and activities organised by the CTC
and it was estimated that that RM4 million would be allocated to the centre next
year.

Based on the terms of reference concerned, the Malaysian government had
agreed to bear the centre's expenditure for two more years until 2010.

"I consider the decision as something that would benefit Malaysia as it
will enable us to utilise our capacity in a new market because all this while,
we were tied to our commitment to them, it's a burden on us.

"Maybe we can refocus our skills to CTC that we will be running to look at
the Islamic countries, I am very keen on that. For Malaysia, it's better for us
to also focus on Malaysia's experience and capability to promote tourism in the
emerging markets such as in India and China," she said.

The CTC was set up on Jan 3, 2006 in Kuala Lumpur based on the decision of
the First and Second Tourism Ministers' Meeting held in 2004 and 2005.

-- BERNAMA