Foreign tourists spent 19.8 billion ringgits (6 billion USD) shopping in Malaysia last year, said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

The spending showed a year-on-year increase of 6.3 percent, in which the retail sector accounted for 30.2 percent against 30.7 percent in the previous year.

Addressing an inaugural ceremony of the Encrop Strand Mall in Kota Damansara, Selangor, on May 28, the Deputy PM emphasised the important role of the retail sector, describing it as the second hard currency contributor to Malaysian tourism, behind the hotel and accommodation business sector.

Malaysia’s tourism rose 8 percent to 65.4 billion ringgits (20.3 billion USD ) in revenue last year.

Kuala Lumpur was rated by CNN’s tourism channel as the fourth most popular place in the world for shopping in both 2012 and 2013, after New York, Tokyo and London.-VNA