CONTINUE EFFORTS TO DEVELOP TOURISM, SAYS MINISTER

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) -- Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said she would continue with the plans and look at the proposals made by her predecessor in efforts to develop the tourism industry in the country.

She said the proposal to be studied was the one by former Tourism Minister
Azalina Othman Said that all State Tourism Action Councils be closed down and
replaced with a single government agency under the Tourism Ministry effective
June 1.

"I will consider the proposal closely. I'm certain that Azalina had an
objective in making the proposal.

"To me, tourism is not really a formal industry, not a bureaucratic
industry. It's a peoples' industry and flexible industry. We will study its
effectiveness if it were to be upgraded to a department," she told reporters
after taking over duty from the former Tourism Minister at her office at Menara
Datuk Onn, Putra World Trade Centre, here Monday.

In November last year, Azalina had made the proposal to ensure that the
tourism sector in all states could be promoted more aggressively and creatively
with the full cooperation of the ministry.

At the same time, Dr Ng said the ministry would review tourism products in
the country.

She said political stability in the country was also important to attract
tourists, and learn from what was happening in the neighbouring country,
Thailand.
-- BERNAMA