Tourism Malaysia Director-General Mirza Mohammed Taiyab has said they plan to draw 650,000 visitors from India this year.

Taiyab said that with budget carrier AirAsia making plans to fly to more major Indian cities later this year and the growing number of outbound travel in India, Malaysian tourism officials are optimistic about achieving the target, The Star reports.

Taiyab said India was the second highest tourism generating market for Malaysia, and despite the global economic recession tourist arrivals from India last year were at a record 589,838.

He also said the Ministry is taking action to recruit more members from various ethnicities to ensure fair representation. (ANI)