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Malaysia Reveals Tourism Push

Tourist arrivals in Malaysia rose by 4.3% to 12,213,767 in the first 9 months of 2005 compared with 11,711,440 in the same period the previous year with an average of 1.3 million foreign visitors a month. The figures up to December 2005 for tourism to Malaysia have not been finalized for release by the government, but the "Tourism Malaysia" group is confident of surpassing 2004?s 15.7 million tourist arrivals and 26.6 billion (in local currency) in terms of tourist receipts.

Malaysia has taken the hibiscus as a logo for "Visit Malaysia Year 2007". The heart on one of the petals is symbolic of Malaysia, with the country welcoming the world with open arms and an open heart. The five dots of the stamen of the hibiscus represent 50 years of independence for Malaysia, and reinforce "Tourism Malaysia"`s existing logo.

Tourism Malaysia is targeting 20 million visitors an RM38 billion in tourist dollars by the end of the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 campaign and it aims to further strengthen its position as a top destination in the region. British newspapers have named Malaysia as the second most popular Asian Country after China in a list of 20 of the world?s most visited countries.