KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Malaysia is a safe destination for local and foreign tourists, despite the recent concerns about influenza A (H1N1) spread. This was the outcome of a meeting between Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai on Wednesday to address the adverse effects of the virus scare on the tourism industry.
Tourism Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Ong Hong Pen said although statistics showed that the number of tourists visiting Malaysia in May dropped by 0.3 per cent compared with the corresponding period last year, tourists had nothing to fear here.
"The virus is in the containment stage. The Health Ministry has taken precautionary measures to make sure Malaysia is safe for tourists. There is no need to fear about going anywhere in the country," Ong said after opening the Malaysian Domestic Tourism Fair 2009 yesterday.
Ong said he had expected the figures last month to show a sharper decline. He pointed out the trend was not only evident here but also elsewhere. In Beijing, tour agents reported a drop in sales of up to 90 per cent, and in Taipei and Seoul, sales were down by 30 per cent. In South China and Japan, there were between 200 and 1,000 tour cancellations.
"This has also to do with the global economic downturn," Ong said.
On domestic tourism, he said encouraging Malaysians to visit local destinations would help fill the gap left by the decline in foreign tourist arrivals.
"This exhibition is timely and will mitigate the adverse effects of the global economic slowdown and H1N1. It caters not only to locals but also to expatriates and foreigners in Malaysia so they can stay longer and spend more. This will generate more income for the country and create employment."
Ong said the short-haul tourist markets from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, South Korea, China and India had shown potential in boosting the tourism industry here.
The three-day exhibition, organised by the National Tourism Council Malaysia and endorsed by the Tourism Ministry, will be on until Sunday at the Putra World Trade Centre.
Some 130 exhibitors from hotels, transport companies, tour agents, handicraft centres and health tourism are taking part.
Entrance fee for adults is RM2 (SGD0.80) and free for children aged below six.
