Closure of tourism offices won't affect Malacca's tourism

SEPANG: Malacca expects to receive 16.7 million tourists from all over the world to the state this year.
Its Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said Putrajaya's announcement to close all Tourism Malaysia offices throughout the country will not affect the state from reaching its target.
"We (Malacca) already have a state tourism office, with a complete structure including marketing and sales, so the decision to close down all Tourism Malaysia offices wont affect us," Idris told the media after a special welcome reception held for passengers of China Southern Airlines at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) here today.
Last week, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz announced that his ministry will close all Tourism Malaysia offices nationwide with immediate effect.
Nazri said the decision was made to avoid job duplication with the state agencies in promoting tourist attractions.
The closure of the 14 tourism offices however did not involve the termination of services of the staff because they would be absorbed into the ministry's headquarters and other departments.
The move is expected to save about RM6 million annually in the Tourism Ministry's expenditure.
Idris said Malacca tourism has expanded greatly as they had recorded 16.2 million tourist arrivals last year.
He added the Malacca tourism office has implemented various promotional activities such as creating a mobile tourism application, as well as organising 159 events this year to attract tourists.