KUALA LUMPUR, 7 June 2020 – The government’s announcement that the domestic tourism sector can resume operations from June 10 will help the country accelerate its economic recovery phase.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, in a statement, said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s announcement was in line with the country’s economic recovery phase with no more restrictions on 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 (NSC) and the Ministry of Health (MOH),” she said.
In a special message broadcast live on local television channels today, Muhyiddin announced that domestic tourism activities will be 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 will increase consumer demand, especially in the transport and food sectors, while helping small and medium enterprises that have been adversely affected by the Covid-19 outbreak.
Meanwhile, Langkawi Tourism Association (LTA) chief executive officer Zainudin Kadir said Muhyiddin’s announcement that restrictions on interstate travel will be lifted, once the recovery movement control order (RMCO) comes into effect, gives hope to tourism industry players whose livelihoods have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said 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 a successful recovery of the 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 the strict SOPs must be emphasised to regain the confidence of the travelling public, especially when it comes to vehicles carrying a large number of passengers.
“For a start, our recommendation to bus operators is for them to set a bus load quota as a measure to keep travellers safe (social distancing) while keeping their vehicles clean when embarking on a journey,” he said.
Source: Money Compass
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Muhammad Rasydan Ma’at
Asst. Manager, Communications
+603 8776 6168
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Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), established in 2009 under the purview of the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia, is entrusted with developing and nurturing the “Malaysia Healthcare” brand. MHTC enhances, coordinates, and promotes Malaysia’s healthcare travel industry by fostering industry collaborations and building valuable public-private partnerships both domestically and internationally. With 80 member hospitals nationwide, MHTC continues to elevate the healthcare travel ecosystem through strong branding, seamless patient experiences, and strategic market initiatives. In line with these efforts, MHTC is spearheading the Malaysia Year of Medical Tourism (MYMT) 2026, the nation’s first dedicated year to celebrate and advance healthcare travel. MYMT 2026 serves as a milestone initiative to showcase Malaysia’s world-class healthcare offerings, strengthen its position as the premier global healthcare destination, and highlight the industry’s significant contribution to the national economy. More information can be found at https://www.mhtc.org.my/.
