The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : `Government will be apprised of Indian travel agents' concern'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 30, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`Government will be apprised of Indian travel agents' concern'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JUNE 29. The Tourism Malaysia Deputy Director-General, Mirza Mohammad Taiyab Beg, today said he would convey to the Director-General of Malaysian Immigration department the "deep concern" and demand of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) for withdrawal of a bank guarantee of Rs. 3.50 lakhs for issuance of a tourist visa under the Internet-visa system.

"We are not shying away from TAAI members. I am leading a high-level delegation. We are here to give a patient hearing and get the latest inputs from the southern regional chapter of the apex travel body to impress upon Malaysian immigration authorities the need for taking suitable follow-up action", said Mr. Beg.

The Internet-visa system was introduced in the Office of the Assistant High Commission for Malaysia in Chennai as a "pilot project." He said the system would make visa issuance hassle-free. The Malaysian Government attached great importance to the Indian travel market as the country had moved up the ladder to the seventh place in tourist arrivals.

Tapping MICE market

Giving details of a new $2.5-million campaign, "Meet and Experience Malaysia Truly Asia", unveiled to tap the Indian Meetings, Incentives, Conventions or Exhibitions (MICE) market, Mr. Beg said the Indian contribution to the Malaysian MICE arrivals in 2001 was only 7,351 out of the total of 1,43,513. But, in 2003, the number grew to 18,608, making India the eighth largest contributor to the total Malaysian MICE arrivals, ahead of the United Kingdom and Germany.

Malaysia, he said, had already received 53,219 visitors from India in 2004. "We are confident that the arrivals from India would cross the 2,00,000 mark", Mr. Beg said, explaining the infrastructure being added in Kuala Lumpur for making it the most preferred MICE destination.

Rosli Ismail, Assistant High Commissioner for Malaysia, said that even after the introduction of the new system, the number of visas issued had not come down. Instead, in May alone, more than 6,000 visas were issued.

Syed Abdullah, regional manager, South Asia, Malaysian Airlines System, said the airline was serving India with 18 flights a week. "We are keen to spread our wings to more Indian points, especially in the southern region, because of its close proximity and traffic potential", Mr. Abdullah said. The airline was in the process of entering into new commercial arrangements and bilateral negotiations, as there was a change of government at the Centre.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu