The Sepang International Circuit (SIC) has set a target of not less than 50,000 foreign spectators from Singapore for the 2008 F1 race this month, its advertising and promotions manager Azlan Akil said here.
“It is with this mission in mind that SIC decided to do promotions in Malacca and Johor Baru, to attract fans from Singapore,” he said.
He said the Singapore market contributed not less than 20,000 spectators last year for the Malaysian GP.
 |
Speed fanatics: Spectators having a feel of the model F1 car on display at Mahkota Parade in Malacca. |
“We are confident it could further increase this year with the increased interest in F1 among racing fans in the island republic,” Azlan told reporters after a F1 promotion at Mahkota Parade here recently.
Malacca and Johor Baru are popular spots for weekend retreats among Singaporeans.
“There has always been a huge interest in F1 in Singapore and it is bigger with the staging of the first F1 race in Singapore,” he said.
Azlan said there were more than 115,000 spectators at the F1 race last year and SIC had targeted a record attendance of 125,000 this year.
Malaysia will host Round 2 of the 2008 Formula One World Championship from March 21 to 23. The new season opens in Melbourne, Australia, in the preceding weekend.
Organised since 1999, the Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix is more than just a race for Malaysia as it has become an effective promotion of Malaysia in the international arena, especially as a tourist destination.
He said the F1 event would not just be at the circuit and SIC would work closely with Tourism Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Ministry of Federal Territory to turn Kuala Lumpur into a city of festivals.
Azlan said, besides the F1 race, there would be the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, Formula BMW Asia, Speedcar Series and GP2 Asia.
Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]
No comments:
Post a Comment