Seremban, 11 December 2012 – Tourism Malaysia Negeri Sembilan in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism Negeri Sembilan Office successfully staged the Negeri Sembilan Tourism Industry’s Kick-Off Conference 2013 at Klana Resort, Seremban, drawing in the record of 260 participants, the largest turnout since its inception four years ago.
The State Executive Councillor in charge of Culture, Arts, Heritage and Malay Customs, Y.B. Dato’ Haji Mohammad Razi bin Haji Kail, launched and participated in the event.
This conference – held annually and now in its fourth time – serves as a platform where all Negeri Sembilan tourism players from both public and private sectors meet to interact, network and exchange views and ideas on ways to further boost tourism in Negeri Sembilan.
According to the Director of Tourism Malaysia Negeri Sembilan, Zaidi bin Kassim, the federal government intends to fully harness Malaysia’s tourism potential since the sector is set to contribute up to 20% of the nation’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2020.
“During the period of January to June 2012, tourist arrivals in Malaysia increased 3.4%, compared to the same period in the previous year,” he said in his speech.
In line with the federal government’s plan to boost tourism’s contribution, Y.B. Dato’ Mohammad Razi also shared that the Negeri Sembilan State Government has also set the target for tourism to contribute up to 30% of the state’s GDP by 2020.
“In 2008, Negeri Sembilan had less than two million tourist arrivals. At that time, the Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan (Datuk Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hassan), posed a challenge to the state’s tourism players to achieve four million tourist arrivals by the end of 2012, which we are confident of achieving,” he claimed.
Y.B. Dato’ Mohammad Razi further stated that the hotel occupancy rate in Negeri Sembilan, particularly in Port Dickson, has enjoyed a tremendous increase of up to 80% in 2012, compared to 2008, when hotels then chalked less than 50% occupancy.
“Since 2013 is designated as Discover Negeri Sembilan Year, I urge not just the tourism players but also the entire Negeri Sembilan population to ‘Think and Act Tourism’, especially among the Negeri Sembilan Homestay providers,” he said.
Y.B. Dato’ Mohammad Razi also commended all Negeri Sembilan tourism players for synergistically working together towards enhancing the state’s tourism, with the government agencies facilitating the effort.
The event also witnessed the launch of Negeri Sembilan Tourism Calendar 2013, developed by Tourism Malaysian Negeri Sembilan.