Malaysia eyes 16.8 percent increase in tourism income

Malaysia is hoping to earn US$ 9.3 billion from tourism this year, up 16.8 per cent on 2004 as Asia enjoys an upsurge in popularity.

Malaysia is hoping to earn 35 billion ringgit (9.3 billion dollars) from tourism this year, up 16.8 percent on 2004 as Asia enjoys an upsurge in popularity as a destination, a report said Friday.

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Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said Malaysia had benefited from the regional tourism boom and was confident that international arrivals would increase by 8.9 percent to about 17.1 million this year.

"Geopolitical developments in the last few years, and the rise of China and India as economic powerhouses, have made Asia more attractive as a holiday destination, and Asian countries would be wise to make the most of these developments," Najib was quoted as saying by the Edge financial daily.

Southeast Asian capitals in particular are enjoying an influx of big-spending tourists from Arab states, who say they feel unwelcome in Europe and the US as the world turns jittery after the recent London bombings.

The number of Arab tourists visiting Malaysia doubled last year. The government, drawing on its status as a Muslim majority country, is targeting some 200,000 Arab arrivals this year, or a 40 percent increase.

Tourism is Malaysia's second-largest foreign exchange earner.