By Nelson Benjamin and Gladys Tay

SINGAPORE: Tourist arrivals from Singapore to Malaysia will increase if the connectivity between both countries is improved.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said that with easier access and minus traffic jams, the frequency of visitors from Singapore will go up.

"The issue of easy access was even raised when I paid a courtesy call on Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

"However, both countries understand the security concerns," she said, adding that the issue of flexibility at the new Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quaran-tine (CIQ) complex would have to be looked into by the Home Minister.

Asked whether the frequent massive jams at the new CIQ would deter Singaporeans from entering Johor Baru, she said she did not think so, but added that the frequency would increase if the process for tourists to come in was made easier.

According to Immigration statistics, between January and November last year, a total of 9.97 million Singaporean tourists visited Malaysia.

Meanwhile in Johor Baru, the constant complaints faced by people using the new CIQ complex have reached the ears of Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, who wants the problems rectified.

He said he would visit the complex to understand the problems, adding that he had received feedback about the inconveniences faced by foreign tourists using the complex.

"Previously, tourist buses used a separate checkpoint, which was at the Tanjung Puteri Complex, but now they share the same immigration and customs counters with Malaysians and Singaporean travellers.

"This has delayed their journey," he said at a press conference held at the inaugural shuttle train service from Danga City Mall to Tanjong Pagar in Singapore, at the mall yesterday. -The Star/Asia News Network