Metro

Saturday July 5, 2008

RM500 entry fee for Indons may be eliminated


THE state may abolish the RM500 fee imposed on Indonesians entering the state.

State Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Hoo Seong Chang said, before the move was implemented, discussions would be held with the Federal Government.

“The Federal Government will then negotiate with its Indonesian counterpart.

“We welcome the suggestion to abolish the fee as Indonesians comprise the second-highest number of visitors to the state after Singapore,” Hoo told Datuk Osman Sapian (BN - Kempas).

Last year, 612,418 Indonesians visited the state.

Hoo also told Datuk Samsol Bari Jamali (BN - Semarang) that the state would increase efforts to its cultural attributes to boost the tourism industry.

“We are having discussions with the relevant agencies to find a suitable place in Johor Baru for a cultural centre.

“The centre will attract tourists to sample our culture,” he said.

Besides this, Hoo said that 224 Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Department officers had been tasked to monitor prices of goods statewide.

He said the officers would monitor 350 items and the information gleaned would be available at 256 information centres statewide.

“Besides analysing the data, the department will send it to the ministry’s secretariat in Putrajaya,” he said.

He said the National Price of Goods Committee would use the information to formulate policies on prices and supply of goods.

“The information will also enable a more systematic distribution of essential items,” he said.

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