MELAKA, Dec 4 (Bernama) -- The Melaka State government is targeting to receive about one million Mice tourists by next year as the historical state is fast becoming a premier destination for both business and leisure.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said Mice, which stands for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, was a high yield sector for the tourism industry.

"From January to August this year, Melaka received 635,482 Mice tourists as compared to 565,748 for the same period last year," he said at the launching ceremony of the Melaka International Tourism Show (MITS) 2009 at Ayer Keroh, here on Friday.

He said Melaka played a significant role in Malaysia's tourism industry as a historical and safe destination and with a unique mix of modern infrastructure.

Overall, from January to October this year, a total of 6.6 million tourists had visited Melaka as compared to 5.3 million for the same period last year, which was an increase of 1.3 million tourists or 25.6 percent.

From the 6.6 million tourists, 1.1 million were foreigners with the biggest number coming from China, Singapore and Indonesia while 5.5 million were from the domestic market.

MITS, which is now in its seventh year, showcases 220 exhibitors mainly highlighting the 12 tourism sub-sectors in Melaka - history, culture, recreation, sports, shopping, conventions, health, education, agro, food, Melaka my second home and youth tourism.

"Promoting this sub-sectors will not only create more business opportunities to develop the tourism industry into a major contributor of the state economic growth but will also generate more job opportunities in Melaka," he said.

Among the foreign participants are the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Department of Export from Thailand, Macau Government Tourist Office and Bangladesh.

-- BERNAMA

Source: http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=460148

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