15.9 per cent tourist growth for 1st quarter

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TOURIST ATTRACTION: Tourists visiting shopping complexes around Kuala Lumpur. Visit Malaysia Year 2014 aims to woo 28 million tourists. — Bernama photo

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia recorded a 15.9 per cent growth or 6.4 million (6,449,398) tourists for the first quarter of 2013, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said yesterday.

He said the income for 2012 was also higher by 16.7 per cent with RM14.99 billion compared to RM12.84 billion in 2011.

Several factors such as increased flights from Europe and cheap flights within the region contributed to the growth, he added.

“Furthermore, we have stepped up promotions through allocations from the National Key Economic Areas and 2014 Visit Malaysia Year.

“The new Legoland in Johor and long weekends have made a difference too,” he said at a press conference here yesterday. — Bernama