SOUTHERN STATE TO FOCUS ON EDUCATIONAL TOURISM

MELAKA (Malaysia), Sept 7 (Bernama) -- The southern state of Melaka
government will focus on the potentials of educational tourism as a new market
segment to boost foreign exchange earnings.

Melaka Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam said the state government would grab
this opportunity in view of the federal government's move to promote Malaysia as
a regional centre for educational excellence.

"In this context, tourist arrivals to Malaysia are expected to increase at
an average rate of 8.4 per cent annually and reach 24.6 million visitors by the
year 2010.

"Thus, revenue from the tourism sector is expected to increase at an average
rate of 13.9 per cent to RM59.4 billion (US$16.9 billion) in 2010 for the whole
tourism products," he said at the Monthly Gathering of the Melaka Government
Administration at Ayer Keroh here, Monday.

Mohd Ali said over the last 10 years since 1999, Melaka had received 40.1
million visitors comprising 29.5 million domestic tourists and 10.5 million
foreigners.

Following the rise in tourist arrivals, Melaka had recorded an increase in
tourism revenue from RM1.2 billion in 1999 to RM3.6 billion last year.
(US$1=RM3.52)
-- BERNAMA