KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 — Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the country’s tourism sector has suffered an estimated RM100 billion in losses since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Malaysia.
He said the government was aware of and concerned about the challenges faced by those in the tourism industry following the implementation of various stages of the movement control order since March.
“The National Tourism Policy (DPN) will assure continuity of the country’s tourism industry. Malaysia can revive its tourism industry by stimulating the domestic tourism sector while the country’s borders remain closed,” he said during the launch of National Tourism Policy 2020-2030 conducted online this morning.
He said the DPN 2020-2030, will focus on sustainable tourism and generating more tourism revenue.
Muhyiddin said in 2019, the country’s tourism industry contributed RM240.2 billion or 15.9 per cent of Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) involving 3.6 million workers in 2019.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected economic activities related to the tourism industry this year with an estimated total loss exceeding RM100 billion.
He said according to the National Economic Action Plan (MTEN), Malaysia would need at least four years to revive the tourism industry, which is a relatively long period and presents great challenges to all quarters involved.
“I believe that, at this stage, we can still revive our tourism industry by boosting the domestic tourism activities and enhancing the confidence of the people to travel domestically while the borders are still closed,” he added.
