PETALING JAYA: Putrajaya will be implementing special tourism investment zones to attract more technology-based investments in the tourism industry, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today.
He said this would come under the National Tourism Policy 2020-2030, which he launched in an online event today.
“Technological advancements can strengthen inter-industry networks and pave the way for new, innovative sub-sectors in the tourism industry that will create business and employment opportunities.
“As such, technology-centric tourism investment is strongly encouraged,” he said, adding that the establishment of such zones will also help improve cooperation between the private and public sectors.
The tourism investment zones were first proposed in August last year as part of the national tourism policy under the Pakatan Harapan government, with then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad saying that such zones will receive “special incentives” to attract more investments.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said the 10-year tourism policy by Perikatan Nasional will prioritise improving the country’s competitiveness, sustainable tourism sector development and preparations for other unprecedented events in the future.
Other parts of the policy will also look at governance transformation, improving commitment towards sustainable tourism and the increasing human capacity models of other tourism sub-sectors.
Noting that the tourism sector’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic was expected to take up to four years, Muhyiddin said there were still opportunities to improve Malaysia’s tourism services.
“At this early stage, we can revive the country’s tourism industry by boosting domestic tourism activities, while borders remain closed, and restoring the people’s confidence to travel within the country.”
He added that the government aimed to brand Malaysia as “Top of The Mind Ecotourism Destination of the World”, which would contribute towards economic growth and create more jobs.
“This effort is also in line with Malaysia’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda and 17 Sustainable Development goals under the United Nations,” he said, expressing hopes for industry players, NGOs, the private sector and other stakeholders to cooperate with the tourism, arts and culture ministry.