MALAYSIA
Tourism
August 14, 2007

Visitors advised to stay outside KL as city hotels fill up
The Tourism Ministry is encouraging foreign tourists to stay in cities just outside Kuala Lumpur as the city's hotels are facing a shortage of rooms as occupancy hovers at 98%, state news agency Bernama reported.

Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the tourists could stay in Shah Alam, Nilai and Seremban.

The shortage of rooms occurred as many tourists, especially Arabs, preferred to stay longer in the country, he told a news conference held to announce the KL International Tattoo 2007.

"Arab tourists come in groups of seven to 17 people and they travel first class or business class. We have to always work hard to ensure that they have every facility which they require (as tourists)," he said.

He also said that military bands from 13 countries including Malaysia would participate in the KL International Tattoo 2007 to be held at the Merdeka Stadium from September 7 to 9.

The tattoo is being organised jointly by the Armed Forces and the Tourism Ministry at a cost of RM9 million, he said. Bernama