RI, Johor forge tourism pact

RI, Johor forge tourism pact

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's southern Johor state on Monday inked
an agreement with the Indonesian government to jointly promote
tourism in the state.

The deal will increase tourist arrivals to Johor and
Indonesian regions around the area through joint cultural shows
and sporting activities, said the state's tourism council general
manager, Karim Hassan.

Karim said Indonesians made up the second highest tourist
arrivals in the state after Singaporeans.

"Since early this year until September, half a million
visitors from Indonesia entered Malaysia," he was quoted as
saying by the official Bernama news agency.

The tourism industry, which is Malaysia's second highest
foreign exchange earner, was badly hit earlier this year by the
outbreak of the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
-- DPA