STATE STRIVES TO BE WORLD-CLASS TOURIST DESTINATION

KUANTAN (Malaysia), May 23 (Bernama) -- The Peninsular Malaysia's east coast
state of Pahang government is to focus on upgrading the quality of its tourism
products and services to make the state a world-class tourist destination.

State Chief Minister Adnan Yaakob said the task would be undertaken by
conserving the state's natural wealth which had become the prime attraction for
domestic and foreign tourists.

"Pahang is fortunate because it has been blessed with various kinds of
natural wealth which is the basis of the state's tourism sector," he said at the
launch of the Zoom!Malaysia Travel Fair here Friday night.

The text of his speech was read out by Pahang Tourism, Arts, Heritage and
Women's Affairs Committee chairman Shafik Fauzan Sharif. Also present was
Tourism Ministry secretary-general Dr Ong Hong Peng.

The three-day programme, which began Thursday, involves 72 organisations
including travel agencies, hotel operators and tourism entrepreneurs from around
the country.

Shafik Fauzan told a news conference later that tourists, particularly those
from abroad, were more interested in nature than physical structures.

Ong, in his speech earlier, said domestic tourists taking up hotel
accommodation had increased from 36.25 million in 2007 to 40.61 million last
year, registering a rise of 12.02 per cent.

He attributed the increase to a better quality of life among Malaysians, the
availability of low-cost flights and the five-day work week in the public
sector.
-- BERNAMA