International tourist spending drops 69.8 per cent due to COVID-19

International tourist spending in the country recorded a decrease of 69.8 per cent from RM41.69 billion in 2019 to RM12.58 billion, for the period of January until June, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourism, Arts and Culture deputy minister Datuk Dr Jeffrey G.Kitingan said based on the ministry's statistics, more than RM13 billion in losses were also recorded for domestic tourist spending in the same period.

"The losses include loss of jobs and source of income following no business activities, salary deduction, as well cancellation of product bookings such as hotel and tourism packages," he said during a question-and-answer session at the Dewan Negara, today.

He was replying to a question from Senator Datuk Yakubah Khan and other related questions on special aid to tourism industry operators who were affected due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

To help revive the industry, Jeffrey said the government has provided incentives and assistance through Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package (PRIHATIN), Additional PRIHATIN Small and Medium Enterprises Package and the National Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA).

"Under PRIHATIN, all tourist guides registered under MOTAC (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture) received one-off assistance of RM600.

"Until August 25, 2020, over 7,000 tourist guides have received the aid with the total amounting to more than RM4 million," he said.

-- BERNAMA