JOHOR BARU – There is no point in wanting more tourists to come to Malaysia when the country is not able to provide a conducive environment for travellers, according to Datuk Willie Mongin (Puncak Borneo-GPS).
While debating the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry’s winding-up speech today, he welcomed the proposal to carry out more initiatives to attract visitors into the country but cautioned that Malaysia’s tourism products may not be able to attract younger travellers.
“If we go to another country, we want to have an enjoyable experience. But (in Malaysia), when tourists come, (when) they want to bathe in the swimming pools while wearing bikinis or drinking alcohol, there is an issue.
“We cannot compete with other countries when our tourism environment is not conducive,” Mongin said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He also cautioned the ministry that the tourism industry has an over-reliance on historical sites and cultural activities that may not be attractive to younger travellers.
In his reply, Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (Bintulu-GPS) agreed with Mongin’s concerns, stating that he will consult with other Muslim MPs on the matter.
Tiong added that Malaysia needs to learn from Middle Eastern nations on how to have an open-minded approach to tourism.
“In Saudi Arabia, people said it wasn’t an open nation, it was very closed,” he said.
“Now, you can do everything there, they have become open-minded.
“We can’t go on making everything into a religious issue because we are a multiracial country and we need to learn to work as one family.” – The Vibes, February 23, 2023
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