Ministry eyes 15,000 visitors, RM12m in turnover at MIDE

KUALA LUMPUR: The 12th Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE) 2017 is expected to attract 15,000 visitors and register about RM12 million in turnover.

Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the three-day exhibition that began yesterday not only catered to those who loved diving but functioned as a business platform as well.

“The expo has evolved into a highly successful business platform with an impressive return on investment track record, supported by more than 130,000 consumers over the last decade with an average minimum of 10,000 visitors yearly,” she said when officiating MIDE 2017 at Putra World Trade Centre, here, yesterday.

Mas Ermieyati said diving was a top tourist attraction in Malaysia as the country offered more than 40 world-class diving destinations and marine parks, including Sipadan, Mabul, Layang-Layang, Perhentian, Redang and Miri.

MIDE 2017 will showcase products and services from more than 150 participating firms with a total of 220 booths.

Meanwhile, Mas Ermieyati said local and international tourist arrivals in Sabah alone rose to 73,477 last year from 55,381 in 2015.

She said with the establishment of the National Recreational Scuba Diving Council Malaysia in October last year, it was hoped that the scuba diving industry could contribute towards the tourism industry and dive tourism revenues. Bernama Participating firms

at MIDE 2017