MOTAC launches domestic tourism recovery plan

The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) today launched the domestic tourism recovery programme in efforts to revive the sector which was adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Its Minister Nancy Shukri said the campaign also encompassed the Tourism Recovery Plan and the Culture Recovery Plan.

She said although the Visit Malaysia Year 2020 (VM2020) has been cancelled, efforts to promote the country as a safe tourism destination would continue to be implemented.

“We have a role to play to help revive the country's tourism industry and make Malaysia a safe tourism destination in the future,” she told a press conference here.

Last Sunday, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the Conditional Movement Control Order (MCO), from May 4 to June 9, would be replaced by the Recovery MCO beginning today which, among others, saw the reopening of domestic tourism.

Nancy said MOTAC had proposed to the National Security Council and the Ministry of Health detailed standard operating procedures for eight sub sectors.

The sub-sectors are arts, culture and heritage exhibitions at cultrural public facilities; hotel and accommodation; tour operator companies; tour guiding; tourism training institute operations; homestay programmes; adventure tourism; as we well as scuba diving and snorkelling.

Nancy said several strategies had also been identified in order to help the country’s tourism and cultural sector to recover.

Among the strategies are prioritising the use of digital platforms such as social media, blogs, websites, as well as e-marketing to regain the confidence of the public to travel again, she added.

In an effort to help industry players affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, Nancy said MOTAC had taken several initiatives including conducting online Domestic Tourism Vibes course from May until December for tourist guides whose licences expire this year.

She said compound exemption would also be given to tourism operators and tourist guides who fail to renew their licences within the stipulated time due to the implementation of MCO.

Meanwhile, Nancy said based on a survey conducted by Tourism Malaysia involving 13,797 respondents, 50.9 per cent of them were confident that travelling domestically is safer after the MCO is lifted.

-- BERNAMA