PENANG, Malaysia (Sin Chew Daily/ANN) - Singaporean tourists visiting Malaysia last year dropped 14% when compared to figures in the previous year while non-Asean tourists increased close to 20%. Brunei tourists also declined by 17%. 

Singaporeans who used to be the largest group of tourists to Malaysia reduced by 14 % last year while tourists from non-ASEAN countries increased by 20 %.

Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, during a dialogue with Penang tour operators on 15 February, said the ministry would release the figures soon.

Despite changes in tourism market, he is confident that the target of 30 million tourists to visit Malaysia this year and RM10 billion tourism revenue can be achieved.

Due to congestion at checkpoint and tour promotions carried out by Singapore Airlines, the number of tourists from Singapore dipped by 14 % last year. The number of tourists from Brunei also declined by 17%. Both have dragged the percentage of ASEAN tourists to Malaysia. 

Muhammad Bakhtiar said Malaysia faces stiff competition from other ASEAN countries as all are promoting tourism respectively.