Tourism industry needs to shift to EVs systemically – MATTA

THE Malaysian Association of Travel and Tourism Agents (MATTA) is calling for a more coordinated national approach to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the tourism sector.

This is to ensure the industry remains sustainable, competitive and future-proof.

Its president, Nigel Wong, said the shift towards electric mobility in tourism needs to be seen as a systemic transformation that goes beyond mere transport policy, but instead involves energy planning, financial mechanisms, infrastructure development and tourism governance.

According to him, without strong coordination between ministries and industry players, efforts to expand EV adoption in the sector will remain fragmented and not have a significant impact.

“This is not just about replacing petrol and diesel vehicles. It is about building a practical ecosystem that enables tourism operators to use EVs confidently, affordably and at scale,” he said in a statement.

MATTA also highlighted several international examples that have successfully accelerated EV adoption through coordinated government action.

In Norway, a comprehensive ecosystem involving incentives, support policies and an extensive charging network has successfully increased EV adoption, including in rental car services on major tourist routes such as the fjords.

In the European Union, coordinated climate policies under the decarbonization framework have helped cities such as Amsterdam and Paris transition to electric mobility in tourism services, including hotel shuttle buses and tour vehicles, supported by regulatory measures such as low-emission zones.

Meanwhile, in China, strong government-led coordination has enabled the electrification process to move forward rapidly, particularly in cities like Shenzhen, which has converted its entire public bus fleet to electric power.

“The key similarities across these countries are not just investments in EVs, but policy and implementation frameworks that unite the energy, transportation and tourism sectors under a common direction,” he explained.

Wong added that Malaysia has a strong foundation through plans such as the Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint 2021–2030, which is a strategic guide to reducing carbon emissions in the transport sector while supporting economic development.

In this regard, MATTA stressed the need to strengthen inter-agency coordination to ensure that the development of EV charging infrastructure is effectively implemented in major tourist destinations, highways and city centres, in addition to providing specific incentives for tourism operators to switch to EVs.

At the same time, the association stressed the importance of integrating renewable energy into the EV ecosystem to ensure that carbon emission reductions are truly achieved and not transferred to other sectors. – May 4, 2026