Malaysia targets 14 million foreign tourists this year

Malaysia`s Tourism Ministry has targeted 14 million foreign tourists this year, 40 percent more than last year…

Malaysia`s Tourism Ministry has targeted 14 million foreign tourists this year, 40 percent more than last year, said its secretary-general Azmi Razak.

He said the pull factor would be the uniqueness of Malaysian society where people of various races and cultures lived together in harmony.

We will also promote Malaysia aggressively to the world especially in West Asia and China with a large population, he said told a news conference in conjunction with the Kelantan Water Fest 2004 on Friday.

He said tourist arrivals declined last year compared with 13.2 million in 2002 due to the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), threat of war and terrorism.

Azmi said Malaysia had the potential to emerge as a preferred destination in the region with its many places of interest, captivating cultures, beautiful lakes and lush vegetation.

On the Kelantan Water Fest which began Friday, he said various programmes had been lined up for the event considered the biggest in the state in peninsular Malaysia`s east coast.

The Ruler of Kelantan would launch the fest on Saturday night.

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