Reopening of domestic tourism will help revive country's economy - Nancy

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, in a statement, said that the Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's announcement was in line with the country's economic recovery phase with no more restrictions to interstate travel.

"The move is timely as the tourism sector can help the country accelerate the economic recovery phase. This is because the tourism sector involves other sub-sectors of the economy such as hospitality (hotels and other types of tourist accommodation), transport, restaurant operators and tourist guides.

"However, at the same time, these activities need to be carried out with utmost responsibility while practising the new normal and strictly adhering to all standard operating procedures (SOPs) set by the National Security Council and the Ministry of Health," she said.

In a special message broadcast live on local television channels today, Muhyiddin announced that domestic tourism activities are allowed to resume operations but the country's borders are still closed.

Malaysian Association of Tour Agency (MATA) president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun, in welcoming the move, said that it would be able to increase consumer demand, especially in the transport and food sectors, while helping small and medium-sized industry operators who had been adversely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Meanwhile, Langkawi Tourism Association (LTA) chief executive officer Zainudin Kadir said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's announcement that restrictions to interstate travel would be lifted once the RMCO came into effect, gave hope to the tourism industry players whose livelihoods were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that the tourism industry players on the duty-free island are ready to receive visitors by complying with the SOPs set under the RMCO.

"Tourism operators are very pleased with the announcement, as it gives a glimmer of hope for the successful recovery of travel industry, along with the fact that almost all hotels in Langkawi are offering attractive packages to tourists," he said.

Elsewhere, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Tourist Bus Association (Baspel) president Noraizam Abdul Kadir said that strict SOPs must be emphasised to regain the confidence of the traveling public especially when it comes to vehicles carrying large number of passengers.

"For a start, our recommendation to bus operators is for them to set bus load quota as a measure to keep travelers safe (social distancing) while keeping their vehicles clean when embarking on the journey," he said.