Tourism players welcome RM316 million allocation for industry in Budget 2015

Tourism players have welcomed the RM316 million allocation under Budget 2015 to boost the industry.

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) secretary-general Joseph Xavier said initiatives to organise more festivals would surely generate a more robust tourism economy.

Bumiputera Travel and Tour Agents Association of Malaysia president Datuk Syed Mohd Razif Al Yahya Syed Yassin said the allocation was a boost for the industry.

Homestay Association of Malaysia president Datuk Shariman Hamdan said he hoped that part of the allocation would be used for programmes in the rural areas.

Tourism Malaysia Beijing director Noran Ujang said the allocation would help boost tourist arrivals, not only from China but from all over the world.

Najib, when tabling the budget in the Dewan Rakyat Friday, announced an allocation of RM316 million for various programmes under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

He said that in conjunction with 'Malaysia - Year of Festivals 2015', the government targeted 29.4 million foreign tourist arrivals with an expected income of RM89 billion.