TOURISM M'SIA OFFICIAL IMPARTS KNOWLEDGE TO SYRIANS

From Muin Abdul Majid

DAMASCUS, May 13 (Bernama) -- Tourism Malaysia deputy director-general
Azizan Noordin Tuesday night offered pointers on how Syria should go about
promoting its tourism sector to emerge as successful as Malaysia in this arena.

The matter was raised by a Syrian journalist during a news conference
ahead of a gala dinner organised in conjunction with Tourism Malaysia's
roadshow to this Syrian capital.

Azizan reckoned that sufficient funds should be allocated for the sector,
including for global advertising campaign.

It would also be good for Syria to garner more information about its tourism
markets and draw up strategies that suit those markets.

"For example, if your market is France, then you need to have an adequate
number of French-speaking guides," he said.

He said Syria should highlight and capitalise on its wonderful tourist
attractions that might have been unknown to outsiders all these years.

In addition, the Syrian tourism authorities could constantly participate in
international tourism shows with a view to boosting the country's profile
abroad, he added.

Azizan pointed out that in 2008, Malaysia drew 22.05 million visitors,
including 264,338 arrivals from the Middle East, generating RM49.56 billion
(US$13.76 billion) in receipts.

Malaysia hopes to attract 250,000 visitors from the Middle East in 2009.

Azizan said Tourism Malaysia was willing to forge cooperation with the
Syrian tourism authorities as he felt that countries should complement rather
than view each other as rivals as far as the tourism sector was concerned.

He also said that the Syrian Tourism Ministry should embark on an initiative
to lure Malaysians to visit Syria.

Speaking to Bernama later, he said Tourism Malaysia was happy to share its
experience in tourism promotion with other interested parties.

On another matter, he said Emirates Airlines was likely to increase the
number of seats to Kuala Lumpur during the coming summer season. (US$1=RM3.51)
-- BERNAMA