KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 4 (Bernama) -- Visit Malaysia Year 2014 (VMY2014) is set to offer wonderful experiences with a comprehensive range of products to cater the needs and preferences of the targeted 28 million local and international tourists.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said besides Malaysia's natural treasures of flora and fauna, from landscapes of impeccable beauty to cultural tourism, there were also various tourism products and services that would best suit any tourist coming to the country.
"These include the augmented tourism products and services under the key themes or affordable luxury shopping, nature adventure eco-tourism, health tourism, family fun, integrated, major events and business tourism," he said at the launching of VMY2014 at the Dataran Merdeka here, tonight.
Also present were Muhyiddin's wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman and Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.
Muhyiddin said, VMY 2014 would serve as a tool to extend the bridge of friendship and promote better understanding of various cultures and heritage.
Besides socio-cultural benefits, the significant of tourism could also be underscored from the economic perspective, with hope to generate RM76 billion in tourist receipts this year. "This represents a significant increase of RM11 billion in foreign exchange earnings," he added.
In 2012, the total tourism income generated in the economy was recorded at RM103.3 billion in 2012, representing a growth of 7.2 per cent, comprising RM62.5 billion and RM40.8 billion in international and local tourism receipts respectively.
"Having outlined the immense impact of tourism, I hope it serves as a motivation and a clarion call to all of us to offer our very best to the tourists in ensuring VMY2014 a phenomenal success," said Muhyiddin.
Meanwhile, he said Malaysia was well on track to achieve the goal of being a top tourist destination in the world, especially following the Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2014 which had listed the country as one of the top 10 countries to visit.
CNN Travel also ranked Kuala Lumpur as the 4th shopping city in the world and three of Malaysia's pristine islands and beaches -- Perhentian Kecil Island, Juara Beach and Tanjung Rhu as among the Top 50 Beaches of the World's 100 Best Beaches. "These accolades in the eyes of the world bear testimony of Malaysia being a premier tourist destination," he said.
To all Malaysians, Muhyiddin urged them to take the responsibility to ensure that the foreign guests were treated with the utmost respect and courtesy.
Deputy prime minister also gave his assurance that Malaysia was a safe tourist destination and this could be seen in the vastly ethnic groups living in harmony with a common bond of kinship and solidarity.
He said the government had also taken measures to ensure continued safety and security of tourists, including the National Blue Ocean Strategy of Police Omnipresence at tourist hotspots.
"To our guests and tourists, allow me to once again welcome you to celebrate VMY2014. "Let this land of sunshine and warm friendly people capture your imaginations and hearts to bring home fond memories of your stay in Malaysia," he said.
-bernama.
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