Minangkabau, Favorite Destination Malaysian Tourist

Number of visits of foreign tourists (tourists) through the Airport (Airport) Padang Minangkabau, West Sumatra, in July 2009 of 6872 people or up 101.56 percent compared to the same period in 2008. Management Center and Data Network System (P2DSJ) Ministry of Culture and Tourism said, of that amount, as many as 4991 people or 73 percent are tourists from Malaysia.

Besides Malaysian tourists, tourist from Singapore, Australia, and the United States enough to go through Minangkabau Airport. The amount of each reached 557 people, 157 people, and 118 people.

Meanwhile, during January-July 2009, the number of visits of foreign tourists entering through Minangkabau Airport reached 36,287 people or 81.49 per cent increase occurs over the same period in 2008. From the number of foreign tourists visit these, some 70 percent or 25,520 people are tourists Malaysia.

The high number of Malaysian tourists to visit West Sumatra, in addition, because of the close relationship of culture, history and the easy accessibility of air transportation, especially the big cities in Malaysia to the Minangkabau, as well as vigorous promotion of tourism to the neighbor country.

Department of Culture and Tourism with the tourism businesses including airlines lately promotion tour package "Home Basamo" to Malaysia and Singapore. In the long holiday season such as Idul Fitri and Idul Adha and Christmas and New Year, many tourists from Malaysia and Singapore on vacation in West Sumatra.