Yen Yen Charms The Arabs

DUBAI: Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen went on a charm offensive to lure in tourists and airlines from West Asia when she personally made her rounds at the Arabian Travel Market held here. Starting her day at the Malaysian pavilion which had been designed after a typical Malay kampung house, Dr Ng briefed the foreign media on what the country could offer tourists. “Malaysia has a diverse culture. You get the best of Malays, Chinese, Indians, Ibans and even Arabs in one country. “I am a Chinese and a Christian. But I am a key Federal Minister in charge of the tourism portfolio. We (Malaysia) are a melting pot of Asia,” she said yesterday in reply to an Arab journalist who claimed that the country was stereotyping population based on their ethnic background.

Being the only minister who walked among the crowds at the Dubai Convention and Exhibition Centre where the event was held, Dr Ng was clearly the focus of the foreign media. She also unveiled Malaysia’s holiday package for this year’s Ramadan, promising Arab tourists a unique experience for their fasting month as well as a meeting soon with local authorities to extend the operating hours of shopping complexes during this time. She also met Oman Air chief executive officer Peter Hill and its chief commercial officer Barry Brown, expressing hope that the carrier’s new service of four weekly flights between Muscat and Kuala Lumpur from May 1 would help to double the number of visitors from the Gulf state. Meanwhile, Emirates Airline has responded positively to the request by Malaysian government for more flights to Kuala Lumpur during the fasting month. “I requested Emirates to increase flights to Malaysia during Ramadan and the airline boss was supportive,” she said after the meeting at Emirate booth at the ongoing Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2010 here. Dr Ng is leading a Malaysian delegation at the Middle East premiere travel fair which will end today. Emirates operates 21 weekly non-stop flights between its home base of Dubai and Kuala Lumpur.

- the star.