Tourism M'sia Signs Memorandum With Jata To Attract 1 mln Japanese Tourists

KUALA LUMPUR, April 14 (Bernama) -- Tourism Malaysia and Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) have signed a memorandum of joint initiative to attract one million Japanese tourists to Malaysia by 2014. Tourism Malaysia in a statement Friday said the memorandum was signed by its deputy director-general (Marketing) Chong Yoke Har, who is currently leading a sales mission in Japan, while JATA was represented by its deputy chairman Takashi Sasaki in Tokyo on April 10. "This is our first programme to attract one million Japanese tourists to Malaysia by 2014. If successful, it will be a major milestone for the Malaysian tourism industry. "We look forward to warmly welcome all Japanese visitors, especially those who have yet to visit Malaysia," said Chong. Meanwhile, Sasaki said destination development strategy was in its first trial stage for JATA and he believed the targeted number of one million travellers to Malaysia was achievable. "In terms of promoting this project, we will place our efforts on expanding tourism exchange programmes, as well as encouraging mutual understanding and enhancing relations between Japan and Malaysia," he said. -- BERNAMA