Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Bernama) -- Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor tonight said that there was a marked increase of tourist arrivals from Vietnam with 5,462 arrivals to Malaysia recorded last year.

Talking during a dinner function with the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) delegation, Tengku Adnan said that the number constituted a growth of 31.5 percent in tourists arrivals compared to the year 2005.

"There is much potential for trade and investment between Malaysia and Vietnam.

"Your visit here would allow us to learn from one another and explore the various opportunities in which we can work together... between the Ho Chi Minh City and Malaysia," he said to the 14-member delegation who are here for a three-day visit until Sunday.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy, who was also present, said Berjaya Corporation Berhad was also in discussion with the Committee to jointly develop a mass transit system to improve the overall transportation system in Ho Chi Minh city.

The delegation, headed by its Chairman H.E Le Hoang Quan, are here on a study tour of Malaysia's public transportation system, infrastructure, landfill, utilities and property development projects for possible implementation in Ho Chi Minh.

Le Hoang Quan said that Ho Chi Minh city, with a population of eight million, had recorded significant achievement in replication efforts for the past 20 years but was facing challenges such as in infrastructure and transportation.

"We are excited that Berjaya (Corporation Berhad) has decided to join the project... And we look forward for Malaysians to come to Vietnam for business opportunities," he said through a translator.

In relation to tourist arrivals, Le Hoang Quan said that the first two months this year had also seen an increase of Malaysian tourists to Vietnam by 48 percent.