Malaysia to host Inaugural Commonwealth Tourism Minister's Conference

Malaysia are to host the Inaugural Commonwealth Tourism Minister's Conference aimed at addressing travel and tourism issues involving Commonwealth member countries on the 17 and 18 March 2004.

The meeting will be attended by some 56 delegations from 54 Commonwealth countries, delegates from two self-governing territories (Cook Islands and Niue) and two Commonwealth inter-governmental agencies.

In London yesterday, Malaysia's Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism the Honourable Dato' Paduka Abdul Kadir bin Haji Sheikh Fadzir paid a courtesy call to Commonwealth's Secretary General, Rt. Honourable Don McKinnon while on a working visit to Britain.

The Commonwealth Tourism Minister's Conference will be preceded by a Senior Officials Meeting and Commonwealth Business Forum. There will also be a Commonwealth Travel Mart from 15 March to 20 March 2004.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 sovereign states, which work together to achieve international goals. Its 1.7 billion people make up 30 percent of the world's population.