1MALAYSIA F1 TEAM TO FURTHER BOOST TOURISM

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 23 (Bernama) -- The 1Malaysia F1 Team, which will debut
in the World Formula One Championship next year, will further boost sports
tourism in the country, Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said Wednesday.

Even the locals and Malaysians all over the world wanted to turn up to see
for themselves the Malaysian team in action, she said,

"Any development of any sport will definitely be a plus point and as far as
tourism is concerned, it will attract tourists and Malaysians to personally come
and see the event," she told a news conference on the inaugural Malaysian Open
tennis tournament here.

She said world-class events like the Malaysian Open tennis tournament and
the Malaysian Grand Prix F1 race were major tourism products.

The government was helping to promote the Malaysian Open tennis tournament
from Sept 26 to Oct 4, she said, adding that publicity on the event, including
'live' coverage, would reach out to 200 million viewers globally.

-- BERNAMA