KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — The government will continue to focus on promoting and enhancing tourism facilities with an allocation of RM400 million under Budget 2017.      

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the allocation among others was for ‘clean air’ and ecotourism initiatives. 

Najib said the other initiatives include extending thec application for pioneer status and investment tax allowance for new four and five star hotels, to Dec 31, 2018. 

"Tax deduction has been increased from RM500,000 to RM700,000 to encourage the private sector to sponsors local and foreign arts, culture and heritage shows and performances,” he said when tabling Budget 2017 at Dewan Rakyat today.

The government would promote Malaysia through the Visit Asean@50 Year Campaign in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Asean and Malaysia as host of the 2017 SEA Games and Asean Para Games.          

To achieve the target of 32 million tourist arrivals next year, Najib said the government would extend eVisa to Balkan and South Asian countries.

Four more Urban Transformation Centres (UTC) in Negeri Sembilan, Perlis, Penang and Selangor and three Rural Transformation Centres (RTC) in Selangor, Sabah and Sarawak would be built with an allocation of RM100 million. 

"As a new measure, each UTC will also set up a Job Centre to match job seekers with potential employers.  

"Which government in the world provides a non-stop service centre operating seven days a week from 8 am to 10 pm? Where can you find, apart from Barisan Nasional,” he said.        

Earlier, Najib said the creation of the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS) had saved the country RM3.5 billion in the expenditure.

"Other NBOS initiatives such as 1Malaysia English Language programme, coding in schools, Volunteering for International Professional and Global Entrepreneurship Community 2 have been allocated RM40 million.” — Bernama