Complaints from European tourists that Malaysia Airlines' (MAS) fares are too expensive has got Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor worried because it may adversely affect tourist arrivals during the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 (VMY 2007).

"They (European tourists) are saying that if we don't do something about MAS fares, tourist arrivals from Europe particularly the United Kingdom will drop by 50 per cent next year.

"Tour operators and agents in the UK, Ireland and Holland said MAS must lower its fares to Europe and allow early bookings to encourage more Europeans to visit Malaysia," Bernama quoted him as telling Malaysian reporters in Amsterdam yesterday.

Tengku Adnan said that when he returned, he would ask the Transport Ministry to hold immediate discussions with MAS to lower its fares to Europe.

Top contributors

He said the demand of the European tourists, especially British tourists, must be taken seriously as they were among the top contributors to Malaysia's foreign exchange earnings.

For instance, 240,030 tourists from Britain visited Malaysia last year and spent RM914.6 million in the country.

The minister in currently in Europe to witness the launch of VMY 2007 in Dublin (Nov 2), London (Nov 4-8), Glasgow (Nov 9-10) and Amsterdam (11-12). The event was well received by the local communities.

Tourism Malaysia is selling various holiday packages for the VMY 2007. The packages include shopping holiday, agro and nature holiday, educational tour, honey moon package, spa holiday, golf holiday as well as diving, fishing, marine adventure and cosmetic surgery holiday.

Tourism Malaysia also encourages tourists to make Malaysia their second home through the "Malaysia My Second Home" package, according to Bernama.