KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) has identified four satellite tourism investment growth destinations to promote the country’s cultural ecosystem over the next ten years.
Its deputy minister Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik said the four destinations were Putrajaya as the satellite tourism capital for Malaysia, Port Dickson as an international beach destination, Tuaran Kota Belud (Kinabalu gold coast) and Langkawi (premier island tourism).
“The four-satellite tourism investment growth is actually part of National Tourism Policy planning for the next 10 years (2020-2030),” he told reporters after officiating the World Tourism Day 2019, here yesterday.
The World Tourism Day, initiated by the World Tourism Organisation is commemorated around the world each year on Sept 27 to foster awareness among the international community on the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value and the contribution of this sector in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Meanwhile, he refuted claims made by the Malaysia Inbound Chinese Association (MICA) that about 2,000 to 3,000 tourists under 100 tour groups from China, Hong Kong, and Macau had cancelled their trips to Malaysia in September and October due to the haze situation in the country.
“It’s false… I’ve checked with the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) that there have been no cancellations due to the haze as the haze was only temporary,” he said.
Earlier, in his speech, Muhammad Bakhtiar said despite the fact that the travel and tourism industry generated 10 per cent of the world’s jobs, new policies were needed to maximise tourism potential to create more and better jobs, especially for women and youths, while new policies were needed to reflect and incorporate on-going advances in technology.
“Malaysia is currently taking efforts to embrace the increasingly apparent trend of digital technology usage in tourist travels… this means higher tourism income, more job opportunities, new businesses and improved infrastructure that contribute to overall economic development.
“Therefore, we must promote decent works in tourism, entrepreneurship, gender equality and youth employment, and strengthen the links between tourism and technology,” he said. – Bernama
