Thursday, May 24, 2012 -
Malaysia’s tourism minister said Thursday the country expects to receive 25,000 Kazakh tourists this year, a 50 percent increase over 2011.
Around 17,000 Kazakhs visited the East Asian country last year, up from just 10,000 in 2010, said Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen.
“The numbers show very good improvement and we hope to attract more tourists this year,” the Bernama news agency cited the official as saying.
The two countries should explore joint projects to further spur the growth of tourism, she said.
“We need connectivity to enhance bilateral tourism development and I’m sure if there are flights every day, we can achieve the numbers quickly,” said the minister.
She made the comments after a meeting with Kazakh Industry and New Technology Minister Asset Issekeshev on ways to boost their tourism development.
The two officials were attending the three-day 5th Astana Economic Forum in Kazakhstan’s capital city.
Separately, the Kazakh foreign ministry said it is considering suspending visa requirements with 47 countries for a two-week period over the summer holiday season.
The visa-free period would be implemented as a measure to promote tourism development in Kazakhstan.
It would affect citizens of member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), said ministry spokesman Ilyas Omarov, Bernama reported.