Tourism ministry targeting the big spenders

KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism Ministry is setting its sights on high yield travellers or big spenders who will stay longer in the country.

Its minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said although Asian countries were still important, Malaysia is now targeting emerging markets such as Russia, South America, North America, India and Brazil. “They (travellers) may not come in big numbers but they are big spenders and would stay longer in the country,” she said after launching the Food Trail book by StarMetro journalist Sam Cheong.

On another matter, Dr Ng hoped that locals will practise the “Malaysian way” of greeting tourists. “We as a nation should come together to place our right hand on our collarbone and gently bow to greet them,” she said.

At another press conference, Dr Ng said some 13,000 Malaysians nationwide are expected to take part in the “Tarian Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia Tourism Carnival 2012” on Sunday. She said the event was in line with Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia in encouraging domestic tourism which contributed RM20bil to the economy last year.

The event will be launched by the prime minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor at Dataran Putrajaya. Sabah and Sarawak will host the Tarian Cuti-Cuti 1Malaysia on Dec 9 and 16 in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching respectively.
-thestar online.