Disaster Should Not Hinder Country's Tourism Growth - MTC

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Bernama) -- A disaster or any other crisis should not hinder the country's tourism industry growth, said Malaysian Tourism Council (MTC) president Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin.

He said South Korea for instance, which is facing the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak, had remained a choice destination for foreign tourists. "This is because South Korea continues to actively promote its tourism attractions even in the face of disaster such as the ferry tragedy and now the MERS.

"In the event of a disaster in the country, it is our responsibility to step up efforts to alter potential foreign visitors' negative perception and woo them to Malaysia," he told Bernama here.

On the earthquake that devastated Mt Kinabalu, a popular tourist destination in Sabah, Mohd Sharkar believed it had not adversely affected foreign visitor arrival to the state which has an abundance of other attractions.

He said in this regard, MTC was actively drawing and carrying out promotion programmes to increase visitor flow particularly foreign tourists. "We will also monitor the country's tourism services, from the entry point to transportation and accommodation (hotel) to ensure that they match tourists' requirements, which vary from time to time," he said.

He said MTC was also working with local universities such as International Islamic University Malaysia to produce more ideas for annual tourism programmes in the country.
-bernama.