WE, the undersigned associations, zealously applaud our tourism minister for his resolute approach to “turun padang” (go to the ground) to gain first-hand information and observe the real situation of the conditions and practices of various government departments, especially those that have bearing on the treatment of tourists visiting Malaysia.
Indeed, there are numerous and onerous impediments that deter tourist arrivals and do not augur well for the development of our tourism industry, and that Malaysia truly welcomes tourists as such.
There are many simple things that can quickly change such negative perceptions and instead epitomise Malaysia as a tourist-friendly and welcoming destination.
The minister’s proposal for visa-on-arrival is a no-brainer as technology is now in place to enable such processing on the spot.
Even visa-free visits can be easily accommodated with the available electronic capabilities.
The airport is the first point of contact for all arriving tourists, but the long queues at the immigration counters, coupled with unfriendly reception, will surely harm our tourism industry, given that a negative post on TikTok or Facebook can be extremely damaging and widely shared.
We are in support of the recent implementation of a pedestrian-friendly no-car mall for Jalan Alor. This is by no means exceptional, as many countries have adopted pedestrian-friendly street malls to accommodate both locals and tourists in a pleasant and secure environment. It is a matter of scheduling to strike a balance between the need for deliveries and pedestrian times.
Food, entertainment, and shopping are all must-do activities for any tourist. To balance the sensitivities of locals and the expectations of tourists, we have proposed that certain appropriate areas in cities and urban centres be designated as international and tourism zones. Previous attempts at such zones, such as Bukit Bintang, should be revived and expanded. We must be more proactive in order to become more appealing as we are competing on a global scale.
The proposed luxury tax is indeed misplaced. Firstly, luxury goods are difficult to define and simplistically include established branded goods. Such established branded goods have global reach and have prices standardised globally. Any added tax will immediately make local pricing more expensive compared to the standardised global pricing regime. The United Kingdom, which has experimented with withdrawing VAT rebates for tourists, has now U-turned due to the serious negative impact. Let us not go down this unsustainable path.
We fully support our tourism minister in his numerous forays onto the ground to see for himself in order to quickly right the wrongs and formulate realistic and profoundly necessary changes to elevate our tourism industry and contribute more to our national economy.
Minister, please keep up the good work; we are firmly behind you. – The Vibes, July 2, 2023
This release is signed by the Asean Retail-Chains & Franchise Federation, BBKLCC Tourism Association Kuala Lumpur, Batu Road Retailers Association, Bumiputra Retailers Organisation, Industries Unite, Malaysian Association of Theme Parks & Family Attractions, Malaysia Retailers Association, Malaysia Retail Chain Association, Masjid India Business Association, and the Malaysia Shopping Malls Association
