MITCOM TO PUSH TOURISM AGENDA IN INDIA

By P. Vijian

NEW DELHI, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysian agencies in India and
government-linked company Malaysia Airlines have jointly formed the
Malaysia-India Tourism Committee (MITCOM) to collectively promote tourism to
achieve the 600,000 Indian tourists target next year.

During the inaugural meeting held at the Malaysian High Commission in Delhi,
representatives from Tourism Malaysia, Matrade and Malaysian Industrial
Development Authority, Malaysia Airlines as well as Malaysian diplomats debated
how to sell Malaysia as a value-for-money tourist destination.

"We have a tourism agenda to push and MITCOM will help to promote Malaysia
among students, travellers and the corporate sector in India.

"We need to create more awareness about what Malaysia has to offer, like its
education tourism, eco-tourism and the Malaysia My Second Home programme. It is
time to think out of the box," said Malaysian High Commissioner to India Tan
Seng Sung.

Taking the cue from Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen's proposal
during a visit to India last August, MITOCM was initiated to link up all
Malaysian agencies in India.

Over 500,000 Indians visited Malaysia last year and spent a staggering RM1.5
billion during their stay.

Now, the Tourism Ministry has upped its target for this year and is working
hard to achieve the new figure as the competition from neighbouring Southeast
Asian countries intensifies.
-- BERNAMA