Tourist arrivals from Hong Kong have expanded by 34.6 percent during the first six months in Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia said Monday.

A total of 45,366 Hong Kong tourists visited Malaysia from January to June this year, compared with 33,712 people over the same period last year, said Tourism Malaysia, also known as Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board.

To better promote Malaysia as an ideal holiday destination, Deputy Minister of Tourism Donald Lim will lead the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 campaign roadshow at PATA Travel Mar (PTM), which will kick off Tuesday in Hong Kong.

The Malaysian delegation will meet with major worldwide wholesalers and tour operators at the mart to establish a wider network of contacts in the tourism industry, Tourism Malaysia said in a statement released here.

"PTM 2006 is an excellent opportunity for Malaysia to showcase its diverse attractions, facilities and multi-ethnic cultures, festivals and traditions to the world to over 1,000 professional travel trade delegates from 322 organizations and 53 countries," said the statement.

This tropical country will celebrate 50 years of independence in 2007. It aims to woo some 20 million tourist arrivals.

Source: Xinhua