KUALA LUMPUR: The government is looking into immediate measures to stem the recent decline in tourism, including revisiting issues such as visa-on-arrival and electronic visas.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the government viewed the matter seriously, with the Tourism Ministry reporting an 8.6 per cent decline in arrivals in the first quarter of the year, compared with the same period last year.
“I am fully aware of various suggestions and proposals coming from the industry and from experts and activists interested to see Malaysia’s tourism industry remaining strong and resilient.
“Let me assure all of you here today that very suggestion and proposal is being studied and given due consideration by the government through the Tourism Ministry and Finance Ministry,” he said while delivering the keynote address at the “An Hour with the Prime Minister on Inbound Tourism” event, organised by the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agencies (Matta).
Najib said the government would need to examine and resolve specific issues to make the local tourism industry more competitive, including revising incentives such as visa fees, visa-on-arrival and electronic visas in order to make it easier for tourists to enter the country.
“Airlines and airports too need to be further engage to increase direct flights and greater connectivity, both of which have shown direct correlation to increased tourist arrivals,” he said.
Earlier, Matta president Hamzah Rahmat had called on the government to introduce an electronic visa (e-visa) system similar to the one used in countries such as Australia.
Such a system, Hamzah said, would be more efficient and secure by reducing red tape and making it more convenient for tourists to obtain visas online.
Present at the event was deputy tourism minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.