KUCHING: Malaysia’s tourism industry is expected to fully recover by the second or third quarter of next year.
Federal Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said, the country initially expected to start the recovery phase by end of this year.
“However, it seems like we have started earlier. Thanks to our frontliners who have been risking their lives for our safety and ensuring that we comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP) such as the practice of social distancing, wearing face masks and using hand sanitisers,” she said.
She said this to reporters after attending a dinner with the state tourism, arts and culture industry players at a hotel here on Thursday.
On new initiatives to attract tourists to travel post Covid-19, she said Motac would put efforts into instilling trust and confidence among visitors that the country has been practising good safety procedures in managing Covid-19 pandemic.
She explained that the ministry would focus on domestic tourism and strengthen the potentials of local products as well as looking at Asian countries.
“We are currently looking at the green-zone countries and discussing to realise cross-border travel.
“We have to wait for green light from the green-zone countries. We can open our borders but if they are not opening yet because of their internal situation, then we have to wait.
“It is not so much about us not wanting to open (the borders) but we have to reach a consensus between countries,” she explained.
