Ng Yen Yen is New Tourism Malaysia Chairman
Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen has been appointed Chairman of Tourism Malaysia effective 17 June 2013. “Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng is no stranger to the tourism industry having served as Minister of Tourism from 2009 until 2013, and before that as Deputy Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism from 1999 to 2003. I have full confidence in her to lead the industry,” says Minister of Tourism and Culture, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Nazri bin Tan Sri Abdul Aziz.
During her tenure as Minister of Tourism, tourist arrivals to Malaysia continued to rise from 23.65 million in 2009 to 25.03 million in 2012. Today, Malaysia is the 10th most-visited destination in the world according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
Her tourism initiatives such as the 1Malaysia Contemporary Art Tourism Festival, 1Malaysia International Shoe Festival and 1Malaysia Green 1Malaysia Clean campaign are now permanent features in the annual tourism calendar.
With her vast experience in the tourism industry, she is now in a closer position to steer the Tourism Board towards the realisation of the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan’s goals, as well as the immediate target of 26.8 million tourist arrivals for 2013 and 28 million arrivals for the upcoming Visit Malaysia Year 2014.
Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng succeeds YBhg. Datuk Dr. Victor Wee as the 7th Tourism Malaysia Chairman (or 12th since the establishment of Tourist Development Corporation). Datuk Dr. Victor Wee, in his tenure as the Chairman from 2009 to 2013, had been active in the international tourism arena, holding key positions such as in UNWTO, while stewarding the Board effectively and efficiently.