Ministry beefs up efforts to revive tourism sector in 2022

 

KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism, Art and Culture Ministry will beef up efforts to revive the nation's tourism sector in 2022.

The move will be part of realising the National Tourism Policy 2020-2030, said its minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

She added that among the efforts to be undertaken by the authorities is to promote hidden tourism gems for both the domestic and international tourists, which holds potential in generating income for the industry players.

Nancy also said her ministry would look into upskilling and reskilling tourism industry players, enabling them to provide the best for their customers.

"Tourism industry players have to start utilising social media platforms in promoting their products and services to attract domestic and international tourists.

"I see many young people have begun doing so, and it has successfully garnered attention to their products, such as crafts and arts. It should be done for tourism too.

"We are aiming to attract more international and domestic tourists to travel around the country in 2022. So, more improvements and upgrades work are set to be in place next year," she said.

Nancy told this to reporters after the launch of the Tower Walk 100 at Menara Kuala Lumpur, here, today.

Present at the launch was Menara Kuala Lumpur chief executive officer Ainol Shaharina Sahar.

The Tower Walk 100 is being held in conjunction with Menara Kuala Lumpur's 25th anniversary.

Nancy said moving forward, the ministry is looking at more collaborations between industry players, state and federal government as well as with private sector players.

She said these collaborations hopefully would lead to creating a tourism investment development zone in each of the states.

"We have to come up with creative ideas for the tourism industry to generate and cover the loss of income burden brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The discussions for these collaborations have been up and running, and we are encouraging agencies and industry players to create these zones."

Nancy said in 2019, the tourism sector generated RM85 billion in tourism receipts and RM103 billion from domestic tourists alone.

"As of yesterday (Dec 13), I was informed that there have been more than 600 foreign tourists that had entered our country for tourism activities.

"The figures might not be a good one, but it is still a good start for our industry.

"This shows that our local tourism is more than able to generate our country's income and from this, we are pushing for more improvements for the industry, in the coming years, in line with the National Tourism Policy," she said.

Nancy also encouraged tourism players to come up with more tourist-attractive products such as the Tower Walk 100 activities.

The Tower Walk 100 is the latest attraction available at level TO2 in Menara Kuala Lumpur, where members of the public will get the chance to walk on a glass platform placed outside the tower while enjoying a 360 degrees view.

The activity, which comes with high safety standards and equipment, has been open to the public since Nov 27 this year.

Members of the public who want to feel the adventure will be hooked to a harness during the 30-minute walkabout around the tower.

Tickets for adult MyKad holders are sold at RM35, while it is RM25 for MyKid. Parents will have to ensure their kids are above four feet tall to enter.

Currently, Menara Kuala Lumpur is having a Year-End Sale where one adult ticket will come with two free kid's tickets. The promotions are available until Dec 31.

-nst online.