MALACCA: The tourism industry contributed RM14mil of the RM21mil in services taxes collected by the state of Malacca last year.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the industry provided employment to 24,000 workers or 16% of the workforce in the services sector.
Opening the RM68mil Holiday Inn Melaka in Banda Hilir Monday night, Mohd Ali said the tourism industry contributed RM2.5bil last year, expected to increase to RM3bil due to the Visit Malaysia 2007 campaign.
"The state government had also spend several million ringgit in infrastructure development and promotions for tourism.
"We had received RM40 mil to build tourism products in the state under the Ninth Malaysia Plan," he said.
Mohd Ali said the state government is committed to supporting the tourism industry and urged the hotel sector to work hard to attract tourists to the state.
