Indian tourist arrivals next

If all goes well, Sabah will see an increase in the number of Indian tourists like what happened in Kuala Lumpur after the Travel Agents Federation of India (Tafi) convention was held there for the first time in 1999.

"Malaysia, until six to seven years ago, was still not on the tourism map of India, although more and more traffic to the tune of at least 500,000 Indian tourists were visiting SingaporeÉthe neighbouring countries then were always neglected," said Tafi President Praveen Chugh.

But after the convention was held in Malaysia in 1999, people in India started to know about Malaysia.

"That's how we started promoting Malaysia as a destination. Tourism Malaysia has also made a great effort to promote Malaysia," he told Daily Express at end of the four-day Tafi International Convention 2007 held at Pacific Sutera, Saturday. The event saw 800 of the leading tourism players in India coming to Sabah.

Daily Express, Malaysia