Malaysia has recorded 23.65 million tourist arrivals in 2009, an increase of 7.2 per cent compared to 22.05 million arrivals in the previous year.
"This showed that 2009 was a very successful year in terms of our efforts in aggressively promoting Malaysia as one of the preferred holiday destinations in the region," said Minister of Tourism Malaysia Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. With 1,061,357 Bruneians visiting Malaysia last year, Brunei is fourth among Malaysia's top 10 tourist generating markets from January to December 2009.
In the top three are Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.
In 2009 December, 127,370 Bruneian visitors placed the Sultanate fourth among Malaysia's top 10 generating markets, after Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.
In December 2009, tourist arrivals to Malaysia increased four per cent with 2,141,071 tourists compared to 2,058,684 for the same month in 2008.
Dr Ng said, "I am also happy to announce that for the first time, the Chinese tourist arrivals have reached more the than one million mark.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our partners in the Malaysian travel trade industry and overseas as well as members of the media for their support towards this success.
"The achievement is much more meaningful to us considering the many challenges and crises that we had to face throughout the year such as global economic crisis and the H1N1 outbreak," Dr Ng Yen Yen added.
According to Bernama, Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen, said, "We will continue the Formula One Petronas Grand Prix at Sepang in April, Colours of Malaysia cultural performance, and bring back the International Floral Parade, in conjunction with the Floral Festival in Putrajaya.
(Borneo Bulletin : 28 January 2010)