Maha president Datuk Syed Rahman Alkaff said there were concerns that the fuel price increase would adversely affect tourism resulting in a drop in the number of foreign and domestic tourists.
“What is needed is proper planning and marketing by the state to ensure that the tourism sector remains vibrant,” he said yesterday.
On Monday, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the state would adopt several innovative strategies to ensure that the target of 6.8 million tourist arrivals for 2008 was met.
Although admitting there would be a drop in the number of foreign tourists, Mohd Ali was confident that this would be offset by a rise in domestic tourists.
Syed Rahman said that Maha, which has 60 registered members, would hold a meeting later this month to look at ways to minimise the impact of a slowdown in the travel industry before forwarding several proposals to the state.
Among the proposals, he mentioned, were improving the transport system and offering a “master-ticket” for all the 23 museums here, as well as for the river cruise and viewing tower.
He also suggested that the state reconsider plans for the RM1.8 bil aerorail link in the city.
“It would be more beneficial if they considered linking KLIA to Malacca,” he said, adding that this would help bring in more foreign visitors to the state.
He also urged the state to begin promoting and marketing the upgraded RM132mil Batu Berendam airport immediately before its completion in 2010.
On the state’s tourist-related projects such as the Malacca River beautification project and Taming Sari viewing tower, he said they had received positive feedback from tourists.
Source : STAR
[tags : malaysiahotelnews hotels malaysia resorts news travel tourism travel vmy2008]
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