Local currency for Games visitors

Local currency for Games visitors

KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Using Malaysia's recent currency devaluation as an incentive, Commonwealth Games officials say foreign visitors can pay for their hotels and tickets in the local currency.

The organizers have agreed to a government proposal that visitors to the Sept. 11 to Sept. 21 Games be charged in Malaysian ringgit and not U.S. dollars, Hashim Mohammad Ali, the executive director of the company organizing the games, was quoted as saying by New Straits Times newspaper yesterday.

Hashim said some hotels had earlier quoted their rates in U.S. dollars when they signed contracts with the accommodation board.

Hotels also will not increase their rates to compensate for the recent loss of the ringgit's value against the dollar, Hashim was quoted as saying.