Malaysia enjoys tourist boom

The buzzingly multi-cultural Malaysia enjoyed a bumper crop for tourism last year, welcoming more than 16 million visitors through its borders.

Malaysia was the holiday destination of choice for 16.4 million tourists between January and December 2005, an increase of 4.6 per cent on the previous year.

December itself proved to be a particularly lucrative month for the Malaysian tourist industry, with visitors rising from just over 1.3 million to more than 1.4 million, an increase of around 8.8 per cent.

Malaysia's growing popularity as a holiday destination is part of global upswing in tourism, but its individual success is partly down to the variety of sights, sounds and activities on offer.

Those after a kaleidoscopic hit of colour and activity favour Kuala Lumpur, with the awe-inspiring Petronas Tower and fusion of old and new Asia.

Much of the city's colonial past has been retained, buildings of which sit alongside a mountain range of gleaming skyscrapers.

A quieter break from it all can be had in the eastern region of the country, most notably on the island of Borneo.

Rich in wildlife, visitors can admire families of orangutans, proboscis monkeys, Asian Elephants and Bearded Pigs. There is also the majesty of Mount Kinabalu, which is there to conquer for the more energetic tourist.

Penang is also an increasingly popular destination in Malaysia. Its rich heritage and Chinese culture makes for a unique experience, fusing Malay with other oriental flavours.

It is blessed with a vibrant yet refined night life, and is ideally located to golden beaches and all manner of watersports and activities.

Click here for cheap flights to Malaysia.
XXX