| S'pore is largest tourist market for Malaysia in 2010 By Vimita Mohandas | Posted: 02 June 2011 1613 hrs SINGAPORE: Malaysia saw about 13 million tourists from Singapore last year - an increase of 2.4 per cent compared to 2009. That makes Singapore their largest tourist market, generating about 28.4 billion ringgit in tourist receipts last year. The Malaysia Tourism Board added that Malaysia's Homestay Programme are getting more popular among Singaporeans. The board also said Singaporeans account for almost half of all homestay tourists. That makes Singapore the top foreign market for the programme. The homestay tourism product was introduced in 1995 as a means to elevate the socio-economic standing of the rural people in Malaysia. Currently, more than 140 villages in Malaysia offer this programme at 3009 kampong homes. "What's important is that this homestay programme gives tourists something special which is more like the kampong lifestyle. When they stay at the kampong together with the family, like the Japanese tourists for example, they won't eat sushi and teppanyaki but instead go for goreng pisang and nasi lemak," said Acting Director-General for the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, Azizan Noordin. Singapore is Malaysia's largest tourist market and the country wants to increase this number with new events. Shopaholics can look out for the 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival that will kick off on June 15 and last till August 31. In July, there will be the launch of the ... |
