Malaysianborn tycoon, Robert Kuok Hock Nien, 83, the owner of the ShangriLa Hotels and Resorts, has affirmed his full support for Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2007 in a meeting with the Hon. Datuk Ir. Donald Lim, Deputy Minister of Tourism, in Hong Kong..

Kuok announced before a visiting delegation of Malaysian journalists at the Island ShangriLa Hong Kong that his international chain of 47 hotels will help promote VMY 2007. "My operations
worldwide will give support and we will do our maximum to support Visit Malaysia Year," he said.

This move by a major travel industry player will enhance the prepublicity leading up to the grand launch of VMY 2007 on 1 st January 2007.

While thanking Kuok for his strong support, the Deputy Minister of Tourism expressed the hope that more Malaysian companies will also come forward and boost the ongoing VMY 2007 campaign.

ISSUED BY: The Communications Division, Tourism Malaysia
DATE: 14 September 2006