Strengthen Skal Friendship For Economic Growth - Tourism Deputy Sec-Gen

GEORGE TOWN (Penang, Malaysia), May 11 (Bernama) -- With a view to strengthening friendship and business ties, especially in the tourism industry, the tourism ministry should support future activities of Skal International, said deputy secretary-general Rashidi Hasbullah. Skal International is a worldwide professional organisation of tourism leaders promoting global tourism and friendship. It is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry. Rashidi said, among others, the ministry-Skal partnership would be able to strengthen the tourism industry which was the catalyst of growth of countries. "Business tourism is very important to the country because it impacts economic growth. In Malaysia, tourism is the second largest earner," he said at the opening of the 41 SKAL Asia Congress 2012 here Thursday. The four-day congress, beginning May 10, is organised by Skal International Penang and held in Penang (north Malaysia) for the first time. Attended by 150 international delegates and local members from Albany, Cairns, Bahrain, Bali, Colombo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Mumbai, and Seoul, interesting activities include complimentary tours to heritage sites in George Town, hill and nature tours, as well as night market shopping in Batu Feringhi. Skal International is non-political and was founded in 1932 in Paris by travel managers. It has approximately 22,000 members in 500 clubs throughout 90 nations. Its umbrella body is headquartered at the General Secretariat in Torremolinos, Spain. -- BERNAMA