IPOH, Sept 3 — The Tourism Ministry is concerned over the spread of Zika and its possible effect on the country’s tourism sector.

Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the ministry and local authorities need to act quickly to contain the spread of the disease, adding it was important mosquito breeding areas were wiped out.  

"It is worrying because we saw what happened in Rio during the Olympic Games. Many did not go to the Games because they feared the virus,” he said.

"I hope it doesn’t become an epidemic here. But since there are many reported cases in Singapore, it is important for us to take swift action,” he said yesterday. 

Nazri dismissed suggestions the government would control the number of tourists entering the country.

"It would be madness to tell people not to come. We welcome everyone to visit Malaysia,” he said.

"We have to ensure the situation here is good so they can come,” he said.

The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents Perak chapter deputy chairman Ken Chong expects members to be deluged with calls in the next few days from concerned tourists wanting to visit Singapore.

"The news of the outbreak in Singapore is still fresh and maybe people are still digesting the news,” he said.

He, however, said if those who bought Singapore packages wished to change their destination, association members would accommodate them.

"Probably we will let them reschedule their trip in three months,” he said.

A tour agency operator, who declined to be named, said since news of Zika in Singapore broke, his agency had received one cancellation and one asked for another tour.

"I expect more to follow suit,” he said.

Describing it as a blow to his agency, the operator said Singapore was a favourite destination during school holidays.

He said if his clients insisted on visiting Singapore, his agency would advise them to get advice from doctors first.