KL 2000 tourist arrivals up

KL 2000 tourist arrivals up

KUALA LUMPUR (AFX-ASIA): Tourist arrivals rose to 10.221 million visitors in 2000 from 7.931 million in 1999, the National Economic Action Council (NEAC) said.

In a statement, the NEAC said the 28.9 percent increase was a record for the country and surpassed earlier projections for the year of at least 8.5 million.

It added that the average tourist arrivals between 1994-1999 was about 7. 0 million visitors a year.

The tourism industry recorded revenue of 17.34 billion ringgit in 2000 compared to 12.3 billion ringgit in 1999, the NEAC said, adding that the latest figures showed tourism growth has made the industry the second largest foreign exchange earner for the country.

It also showed that Malaysia is still one of the main tourism destinations in the region, NEAC added.

The largest numbers of arrivals were from ASEAN countries, totalling 7. 182 million, led by Singaporeans with 5.420 million, followed by Thailand with 940, 215, Indonesia with 545,051, Brunei with 195,059 and Philippines with 81,927, it said.