Published January 12, 2009

Tourist arrivals up 5.1% in '08

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(KUALA LUMPUR) Malaysia registered an increase of 5.1 per cent in tourist arrivals with 22.05 million recorded last year compared with 20.97 million in 2007, said Tourism Minister Azalina Othman Said yesterday.

She said tourist arrivals last month alone registered a 9.2 per cent increase, with more than two million recorded compared with 1. 8 million in December 2007.

Among the long-haul markets, tourist arrivals from Canada grew by 65.6 per cent, Netherlands 63.3 per cent, Russia 56 per cent, France 44 per cent, Norway 43.9 per cent and Germany 41.9 per cent.

As for the short and medium-haul markets, countries that registered significant growth included Iran (132 per cent), Cambodia (52.9 per cent), Indonesia (34.6 per cent) and India (30.4 per cent).

Ms Azalina said Singapore maintained its position as the largest market last year with more than 11 million visiting Malaysia. -- Bernama