KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 — Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz reached across the political divide today to boost the tourism industry, noting that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) states are crucial to achieving its targets next year.
The tourism and culture minister said tourism committees would be set up in all states — including PR states Penang, Selangor and Kelantan — that will comprise officials from various departments like the Forestry Department, Health Department and the police that have a stake in the tourism industry.
“If I exclude Kelantan, Penang and Selangor, I can’t achieve my target next year,” said Nazri in a joint press conference with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at Parliament here today.
Nazri added that state governments could request for additional funds through the tourism committees.
“I can channel the funds through the committee,” he said.
Lim supported Nazri’s initiative for a state tourism committee, saying: “This is in the national interest.”
“If you help to promote tourism, the revenue goes to Malaysia,”, the Bagan MP and DAP secretary-general added.
Lim also called for the Tourism and Culture Ministry to receive a bigger budget, pointing out that the tourism industry is the third largest contributor towards the country’s revenue at RM66 billion a year.
“Allocate at least one per cent of that,” said Lim, who heads the island state that is well-known for its beaches and hawker food.
Nazri said the tourism committees would likely be kickstarted after Hari Raya next month.
