Tourist Arrivals To Johor Up, Says Freddie Long

Tourist arrival figures are up as the Johor government looks to the Far East to further enhance the numbers.

The state capital, the gateway for tourists entering Malaysia via Singapore, recorded a 21 per cent increase between January and June as compared to the same period last year, with 9.6 million arrivals compared to 12.3 million.

"Thanks to all the efforts and promotions of the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 campaign by the Tourism Ministry.

"It shows how important Johor Baharu is as 60 per cent of the arrivals come in via the state capital," said state executive councillor for Tourism and Environment Freddie Long after opening the 3rd Johor Lantern Festival at Danga Bay here last night.

And to further boost the arrival figures, the State Tourism Action Council was looking at bringing in tourists from north-western China and the breakaway republics from the former Soviet Union or Commonwealth of Independent States.

Bernama, Malaysia