Motor tourism set to become high-yield product

KUALA LUMPUR: Motor tourism is set to go into overdrive as a new tourism product in the country. Come December, a task force is scheduled to meet to chart out a roadmap to develop the sector, said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. To extensively develop motor tourism in the country, she said key industry players, including the Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA), would be roped in to study ways to fuel the sector.

Already, the country had in place, good infrastructure such as highways, and comparatively cheaper fuel price, to help enhance motor tourism, she noted. We just need to look at how (best) to optimise this infrastrucuture and existing tourism products, such as the many homestay programmes that we have, for the 'motorism' prospect. "But at the same time, we also need to study and improve our weaknesses, such as road signs," she said Thursday, after launching the advertising and promotion campaign for the Kuala Lumpur International Motor Show 2010 (KLIMS'10). Dr Ng added that the ministry would also study the best practices from other countries before innovatively promoting motor tourism to suite the local prospective.

Earlier in her speech, the minister said motor tourism had the potential to become a high yield tourism product and KLIMS'10 could be used to promote the sector. KLIMS'10 will be held from Dec 3 to 12 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC). It is expected to lure about 330,000 visitors and tourists. The Star is the official media for the event.

- Bernama.