SPEECH BY YBHG. DATO’ S. THANARAJASINGAM AMBASSADOR OF MALAYSIA TO FRANCE TRAVEL TRADE SEMINAR 22 MAY 2009

YB Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen, Minister of Tourism of Malaysia

Ladies and Gentlemen

Good afternoon and bonjour.

I would like to welcome all of you and thank you for joining us at this event entitled “Morning with the Minister of Tourism, Malaysia”.

Today is indeed a special occasion to promote Malaysia in France given the presence of the Honourable Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen who is visiting France within 6 weeks of her appointment as the Minister of Tourism, Malaysia.

Her decision to visit France early in her administration of the Ministry is timely and apt, underscoring the importance which Malaysia attaches to France, in particular the recognition of its major role in global tourism.

In Malaysia, we are fully aware that France is the number one tourist destination in the world, and that French tourists are one of the most travelled in the world.

For the year 2008, a total number of 86,030 French tourists had visited Malaysia, one of the highest amongst the EU, behind the UK and Germany. This represented an increase of 45% compared to the preceding year. For 2009, it is my hope that the tourist traffic will be sustained, notwithstanding the repercussions of the global economic crisis aggravated by the outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1).

Ladies and Gentlemen,

My primary task this morning is to introduce to you Malaysia’s new Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen. Though she is the new Minister of Tourism, she is no stranger to the tourism sector having served as the Deputy Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism from 1999 to 2003. A medical doctor by profession she has been an elected Member of Parliament since 1999. She went on to become Deputy Minister of Finance from 2003 to 2008 and then Minister of Women, Family and Community Development from 2008 to 2009 before taking up her current portfolio.

Within the last three years, Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen has visited France three times, again underscoring the importance she attaches to France and her determination and desire to deepen Malaysia-France relations. She is no stranger to France and is indeed a good friend of France. May I also add that she is energetic and hardworking, sharp and brimming with ideas of how to promote tourism between Malaysia and France.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I also have the pleasure to announce that Malaysia has for the first time established two Honorary Consulates in France. They are to be based in Lyon and Marseille. Malaysia’s first Honorary Consul in Lyon and the region is Mr. Regis Van Liefland and the first Honorary Consul of Malaysia in Marseille is Mr. Jean Pierre De Bono. These two gentlemen would help Malaysia in promoting Malaysia-France relations including tourism in their respective cities and jurisdictions.

Before I end, I would like to thank you all again for your participation and hope that today’s seminar would be beneficial and fruitful for all of us in enhancing Malaysia-France tourism cooperation.

Thank you.