MALAYSIA EXPECTS 20 MILLION TOURISTS THIS YEAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- The Tourism Ministry expects around 20 million domestic and foreign tourists this year, down from 22.05 million last year, due to the worldwide economic slowdown.

Minister Azalina Othman Said said that with the current scenario, the
ministry would focus more on domestic tourism.

The government foresaw 40 million hotel night stays from the domestic market
alone for 2009, she told reporters after launching the "Jingle Dan Kuiz"
programme Zoom Malaysia" programme here.

Azalina's strategy to stimulate the local market includes tie-ins with the
various RTM radio stations, Astro and TV3 to generate more interest from locals
tourists.

She said she would visit the Finance Ministry later Thursday to propose a
RM400 million (US$109.6 million) stimulus package to maintain tourism products
throughout the country.

"We want to focus on better maintenance of our current tourism products.
Plus, this stimulus package will also focus on our three niche markets which are
meetings, incentives, conventions and events (Mice), Malaysia My Second Home and
medical tourism."
-- BERNAMA