More Tourists From Europe Visiting Melaka - Chief Minister

MELAKA (Malaysia), Nov 8 (Bernama) -- The number of tourists from Europe visiting Malaysia's Melaka state increased to 212,524 in 2015 from 174,708 in 2014, based on statistics recorded by Tourism Melaka. Chief Minister Idris Haron said the figure was expected to increase further this year, following the state government's aggressive efforts to draw more tourists from Europe to the state, including participating in the three-day World Travel Market (WTM), London beginning Monday. He said in a statenment issued here Monday that the United Kingdom was among the important tourist markets in Europe to Malaysia, particularly to Melaka, which needed to be explored. "Melaka's participation in WTM London 2016 serves as the best platform to introduce Melaka to the world, especially to Europe as the event is being participated by thousands of tourism industry players from across the world and widely covered by the media. "Therefore, the state government will take this opportunity to promote Melaka through cyber application known as #Melaka755 Quest, a Destination Melaka mobile tourism application," said Idris who will be leading the Melaka tourism trade mission to WTM London 2016. He said Melaka's involvement in the world event was also important in building a business network and to open new opportunities for professional conference planners and destination management companies to view Melaka as a choice destination for international meetings, conferences and incentives. Idris said that WTM London, organised annually, managed to gather over 50,000 participants showcasing their tourism destinations, products and services to 100,000 trade visitors from 182 countries. He added that 50 Malaysian agencies were involved in the programme including travel agencies, hotels and product operators to promote Malaysia's tourism sector. "With regard to Melaka, among those in the tourism trade delegation are state financial officer Datuk Roslan Ibrahim and representatives of Melaka Historical City Council, Melaka Chief Minister Incorporated and Telekom Malaysia Berhad, Melaka," he said. Idris said Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz was expected to officiate at the Malaysia Stand opening at WTM, being held at ExCel London. --BERNAMA