Davao City (14 July) -- A Malaysian tourism official is projecting a high tourism growth rate within the next five years in the Asean sub regions.

Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, deputy director general of Tourism Malaysia said that tourism industry is growing fast in the Asean region.

He said tourism has become everybody's business because everyone nowadays wants to travel.

His projection is backed by the plans of the opening of more flights to Davao in the distant future.

Taiyab noted that the steady growth of Filipino arrivals in Malaysia is a signal for a steady growth.

The phenomenon, he said, is picking up as they see more and more people traveling in the regions.

"My projection of positive growth is both for the Philippines and Malaysia," he said.

He cited several factors that would contribute to the growth of tourism.

"In the coming days people would have disposable income which could be considered as a factor for growth," he said.

He also said that people will have discretionary time and they will have time for leisure.

Accessibility to more flights is one motivating factor that will encourage people to travel, he said.

Taiyab meanwhile said that while people travel as far as US and Europe to enjoy various theme parks they are also starting to look around the sub regions where similar parks are available.

He said in Malaysia several affordable parks are now in place aside from the fact that it is inexpensive.

In comparison he said US $1 is equivalent to Malaysian S3.80 as compared to US $1 for only Singapore $1.60.

"With this money comparison, if I am a tourist I would rather go to a country where travel is cheap," he said.

Malaysia, he said, is the second largest receiving country for tourists in Asia with 15.7 million next to China with 30 million.

The number of Filipinos in Malaysia accounted to 2.4 million and tourists arrivals in 2004 recorded some 143,000 and the number is increasing.

Davao region tourism regional director Sonia Garcia said that the Malaysian Tourism Roadshow is one scheme that they are trying to firm up to support the BIMP EAGA linkage.

She said they wanted to work around Davao and Kota Kinabalo.

"We look at KK as a hub to the European market and to other areas like Australia," she said.

But she said they need to get the support of the local government units to bring them to missions in the different sub regions. (PIA/pdbanzon)