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Controversial Malaysian Tourism Minister in green tourism line up
Hon. Dato Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen winning CHT Pursuit of Excellence Award
Hon. Dato Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen, the colourful Malaysian minister of tourism is one of the key speakers in this year’s World Green Tourism line up
Since the minister was appointed, her outgoing style has brought astonishment and praise in equal measure.
A great fighter for gender equality, the same year as she was appointed – in 2009, Ng sparked an uproar in South East Asia, particularly among Singaporeans, for staking claims on food such as Laksa, Bak kut teh, Hainanese Chicken Rice and Chilli crab as uniquely Malaysia.
When she was asked about the uproar, she said she was surprised and was adamant on attracting tourists with the food, saying: "We cannot continue to let other countries hijack our food. We have to lay claim to our food."
Other spats have concentrated on her travelling style and her ministry’s expenses.
But clearly her style has worked – during her period in office international tourism has grown from around 22million to a forecast 26 million in 2011 and from under $50 billion earnings in 2008 to over $60 billion forecast in 2011.
See http://www.worldgreentourism.com/greenprofile.php?id=269 for other speakers.
The event is to be held in Abu Dhabi where the ministry of tourism has disclosed “best ever” hotel performance for the first half of 2011 READ HERE
Valere Tjolle
Valere is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2011 Special Offers HERE
Valere
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