KUALA LUMPUR 1 April – The opening of the border and allowing international tourists to return to our Malaysian shores and our skies will be a major upliftment to the tourism industry, said an industry player, Group Executive Director, Melewar Group Bhd, Tunku Datuk Seri Dr Iskandar Tunku Abdullah.
Melewar Group encompasses several tourism-related companies, including Mitra Travel, Tours, Mitra Kembara, Pacific World Travel, APG Malaysia and World Express Malaysia.
Tunku Iskandar who was Past President of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) said: “Perhaps the success of the Langkawi Travel Bubble that was allowed in September, mostly for domestic tourists is an indication of how tourism can have a major positive impact.”
“When Langkawi was opened to tourists, it does not only allow tour operators and hotels and resorts but also tour guides, limousine drivers, tour bus operators, souvenir shops and cafes and restaurants to once again spread the tourist dollar through the economy,” he told DagangNews.com here today.
He was responding to the government’s decision to finally open the Malaysian borders after two years of stringent border controls, to international travellers again beginning today.
“When the country closed its borders two years ago, it was thought that it was necessary as a “circuit breaker” and for a duration of three months or perhaps six months.
“It was not anticipated to be prolonged for 24 months. Even domestic travel was not allowed until middle of 2021. As a result, many travel agencies, tour operators, hotels & resorts, homestays closed their doors,” he said.
Tunku Iskandar pointed, “Moving from pandemic to endemic does not mean the end of Covid-19, and it "merely" means that infections will occur in seasonal or predictable cycles, like the influenza, so that does not necessarily mean we’ll be mask-free or that vaccinations will no longer be needed.”
Like influenza, he said, regular routine perhaps annual vaccinations will still be required.
“Wearing of masks, smart hygiene and other similar precautions may still be necessary. However, the tourism industry will be able to move ahead more confidently, “he stressed.
Touching on the opening of the land route between Malaysia and Singapore simultaneously today, Tunku Iskandar said: “I believe it will be a hugely positive effect on businesses especially in Johor as Singaporean day-visitors will once again bring economic gain to shops, retailers and service providers there.
He said it would also allow for Singaporean families to use their own cars to holiday to all parts of Peninsula Malaysia even up to Penang, Kedah and Perlis as well as Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan.
Tunku Iskandar said Tourism is proven to have a strong multiplier impact on the economy covering practically all sub-sectors and further delays will continue to “punish” the businesses, large and small.
Therefore, he said it is necessary that our government makes this move.
“We can also see how Malaysia is actually a leader in the tourism sector as ASEAN countries have decided to move in concert to open in April whereas prior to this, several countries had tried to open up but only partially succeeding.
“For Malaysia, we must strive to create new and interesting itineraries, develop new attractions and affordable accommodations, use digitalisation more effectively to manage and also market our tourism products globally, said Tunku Iskandar who is also a tourism expert following his vast experienced in leading various tourism associations locally and internationally.
He was formerly member of the Boards of Malaysian Tourism Promotion Board and Tourist Development Corporation of Malaysia, Board of Governors of Commonwealth Tourism Centre and Deputy Director of United Federation of Travel Agents’ Associations (UFTAA).
Tunku Iskandar was awarded the Malaysia Tourism Gold Award in 2005 in recognition for his contribution to tourism by the Ministry of Tourism of Malaysia and the inaugural MATTA Tourism Icon Award in 2019 for his contribution to the Malaysian tourism industry. – DagangNews.com
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