KUALA LUMPUR: Sim Leisure Group expects a sharp rebound in tourism and themed attraction industries as people have developed a different perspective towards life after the Covid-19 pandemic, chief executive officer Sim Choo Kheng said.
Sim, who is also the founder of Sim Leisure which owns KidZania Kuala Lumpur and the Escape theme park chain, said in China, for instance, attractions business had bounced back with an increase of over 30 per cent in attendance compared to pre-Covid-19 times.
He said while the statistic was unconfirmed, people there had seen lives through a slightly different lens, after surviving the calamity.
"I feel that this is definitely not a short-term reaction to the deprivation. Having said that, the above illustration largely represents domestic market conditions.
"While the opportunity in the tourism landscape remains very promising, businesses that are relying on foreign tourists are not. It will take a while before international tourism in Malaysia rebounds. This is not unique to Malaysia but a common trend worldwide," he told the New Straits Times recently.
However, Sim said Malaysia was losing its appeal as an international tourist destination among more adventurous, younger crowds who prefer action-packed Thailand or Vietnam.
He said Malaysia tended to lean more on the conservative, appealing to older travellers.
"The sad news is that tourism leadership in the country does not have the global mindset to effectively grasp it. There is an urgent need for new blood of tourism players in Malaysia," he added.
Meanwhile, he said more Movement Control Orders (MCOs) would only complicate industry matters further.
"Many will run out of cash and not survive. What is truly scary is machines that have not been maintained properly may not even function properly, bringing about a big cost implication as well as comprise on safety.
"Many industry players already struggling will breathe their last breath and call it a day. Those who survive this pandemic will return stronger and thrive, like cockroaches," he said.
Sim said during MCOs, certain themed attraction bodies should have protested to guide the government in understanding the nature of the businesses and the spread of the virus.
"Theme parks should not be the first to close and last to open. In fact, chlorinated water and the outdoor environment has proven that a waterpark is safer than shopping malls, factories and casinos," he said.
Sim Leisure, which is listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange, operates KidZania Kuala Lumpur interactive indoor educational and entertainment centre where children role-play professions and activities designed to mimic adult life.
It is located at the Curve NX building in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
The group opened the Escape theme park brand in Penang in 2012, offering visitors self-directed activities built around Adventureplay, Waterplay and Gravityplay.