Malaysia on track to meet 33.1 million tourist arrivals

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is on track to achieve its targeted tourist arrivals of 33.1 million this year, says the Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister.

Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi said this was despite a slowdown in tourist arrival growth last year.

“We are keeping the target set (by the former government) earlier at 33.1 million. Based on the latest figures so far, we are on track to achieve that,” he told reporters after launching Ice Age Alive 2018 at Malaysia Tourism Centre (Matic).

Tourist arrivals fell 3.36% to 25.9 million last year from 26.8 million in 2016. Tourist arrivals to Malaysia for 2016 grew 4.0% year-on-year to 26.8 million.

Mohamaddin said his ministry was in the midst of studying all tourism projects approved by the former administration.

“We are studying the projects and we will keep the good ones.

“Although there is a change in government, it does not mean that we will cancel all projects initiated by the previous administration,” he said.

Ice Age Alive runs until Dec 31 at Matic, Jalan Ampang, from Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays, from 10am to 7pm.

Visitors will discover an exhibit of creatures which roamed the Earth millions of years ago including Tyrannosaurus rex, Dodo bird, saber-toothed cat and woolly mammoth.