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AT the India and Malaysia-Partnership in Tourism conference yesterday, Malaysia's Tourism Ministry unveiled a strategic plan to attract 400,000 Indian arrivals by 2007.

Indian arrivals rose 35.1 per cent to 149,287 from January to October compared to 145,000 and 183,000 tourists for the whole of 2003 and 2002 respectively. In Tourism Malaysia chairman Datuk Abdullah Jonid's speech, which was read by deputy director general, Mr Mirza Mohammad Taiyab, the strategic plan anticipated 25 per cent growth in tourist receipts from India and increase in the average length of stay to 11 or 12 days by 2007 from 9.1 days in 2003.

Indian tourists contributed RM270.37 million (US$71.15 million) in revenue in 2003.

He said there was a focused approach to tap into the six metro cities of India - New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkatta, Bangalore and Hyderabad. Thematic promotions to generate niche awareness on high-end products will be launched, and tactical promotions would tap into value-for-money products.

The country's latest tourism arrivals for January to October hit 13.07 million, almost surpassing the record 13.29 million figure for 2002. With an average 1.3 million arrivals each month since this year, the country is set to touch the 15 million mark this year and the industry to maintain its position as the second largest revenue contributor for the fifth year running.