KUALA LUMPUR: Put extra efforts to ensure the success of Visit Malaysia 2007 instead of criticising it at all times.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said when asked by a reporter on statements made by certain tourism-related associations on the slow flow of tourist arrivals and the unchanged business environment although it was VM2007.
The annoyed minister said that before such parties made comments they should at least get their facts and figures right, and even if they wanted to make comments they should speak to the right people first.
Tengku Adnan said VM2007 was for the nation and it was not only for the ministry, and the success would only be known by year-end.
He said they hoped to reach the target of 20.1 million tourists arrivals.
“Our airports are jam-packed daily, the occupancy rates at hotels are high and, furthermore, we are not only concentrating on Kuala Lumpur; the tourists visit other parts of the country.
“With only one ferris wheel at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa drawing a huge crowd there, what are these people talking about VM2007 being lembab (slow)?” he told reporters after announcing the Malaysia Grand Prix Sale 2007, to be held from March 24 to April 22.
Tengku Adnan said that an award for the best destination for Americans presented to Malaysia proved that the country was on the right track in promoting tourism.
“The media should also play their role in reporting the positive issues instead of focusing always on the negative ones.
“The bloggers are creating a wrong impression of the country by writing anything under the sun without getting the proper facts and figures,” he added.
When asked to comment on a report in a newspaper on Malaysia being placed 88th among the world’s most expensive destinations this year, Tengku Adnan denied the statement.
“Our five-star hotel rooms cost only US$72 each compared with a similar room in Indonesia which is US$120.
“I have not read the report and I am not sure how far it can be trusted,” he said, adding that it was not the cheapest country but it was definitely a value-for-money destination.
Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2007]
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