November 18, 2009 21:50 PM

State Government Forms Negeri Sembilan Tourism Board

SEREMBAN, Nov 18 (Bernama) -- The state government has set up the Negeri Sembilan Tourism Board (LPNS) to determine the direction of its tourism industry.

The board, which will be chaired by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, is a merger involving the Negeri Sembilan Tourism Action Council, Negeri Sembilan Tourism Unit and Negeri Sembilan Tourism Malaysia.

Representing the private sector in the board are the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents of Negeri Sembilan and the Malaysian Association of Hotels Negeri Sembilan.

Mohamad said the board's formation was approved by the executive committee last week and would begin operations on Jan 1, next year.

Speaking to reporters here Wednesday, he said: "Through the board, we will get ideas and the views of members to improve the state's tourism industry and products."

By year-end, the state tourism action council (MTPN) will be replaced by a federal-level department known as State Tourism Action Department (JTPN).

Previously, the Cabinet had agreed to dissolve the MTPN and replace it with the JTPN, beginning last June 1, but the decision was postponed by the tourism ministry to Jan 1.

The reason cited for the postponement was to focus on the industry and its challenges.

Mohamad expressed disappointment over the imminent dissolution of the MTPN which had played an important role in the development of the tourism sector.

"I don't know what was behind the tourism ministry's action to dissolve the MTPN," he said.

On the fate of MTPN employees, he said the state government would try to absorb them into other departments.

-- BERNAMA

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