INDIA AND MALAYSIA PLAN TO PROMOTE RURAL TOURISM

By P. Vijian

NEW DELHI, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and India are in talks to jointly
promote rural tourism, which is becoming a stylish outing for holiday makers.

Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen, who is currently in India, broached the idea
of rural homestay programme to her Indian counterpart Kumari Selja Monday.

"We should look into a memorandum of understanding to boost rural tourism.
India and Malaysia can be a building bridge for this sector," Dr Ng told Kumari,
India's Minister of Tourism, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation.

Dr Ng, who is here to promote Malaysia as a favourite tourist destination to
Indian holiday-makers, said there were 146 Malaysian villagers offering
adventurous homestay programme to foreigners, which is fast becoming popular
among Europeans travellers.

Allaying fears of the Influenza A(H1N1), she said it was a problem but the
disease had not affected tourist arrivals in the country and had in fact
increased by 3.9 percent during January-July this year compared to the same
period last year.

"A(H1N1) has its negative impact and we are taking it seriously," she said.

An estimated 22 million tourists landed on Malaysia's shores last year, of
which 500,000 were from India, and for this year the ministry had pegged an
additional 100,000 from the Indian market.

Last year Indian tourists spent nearly RM1.5 billion during their visit to
Malaysia.

In Delhi, Dr Ng also launched the "1Malaysia, Endless Experiences" marketing
campaign to woo Indian travellers.

Under the holiday package, travel from anywhere in India to Kuala Lumpur
would cost only Rp17,000 (RM1,259). US$1=RM3.50)
-- BERNAMA