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Tiong outlining Malaysia's strategy to strengthen resilience of nation's tourism economy. Advertisement
By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, April 1: Malaysia is refocusing on high-performing and stable tourism markets in ASEAN and Asia, prioritising premium and Muslim-friendly offerings, as part of a strategic effort to strengthen the resilience of the nation’s tourism economy amid ongoing geopolitical conflicts.
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Dato Sri Tiong King Sing said the Ministry will prioritise key markets including China, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, while continuing engagement with emerging and long-haul destinations such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Russia, France, Germany, Australia, Timor-Leste, Ukraine, Denmark, Switzerland, Türkiye, and Poland to ensure long-term diversification.
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“To enhance our competitiveness and economic contribution, we are adopting a more targeted and proactive tourism promotion strategy, focusing on high-value segments and the premium travel market rather than volume alone.
“At the same time, Malaysia will continue to strengthen its global leadership in Muslim-friendly tourism, including developing the halal ecosystem and Muslim-friendly hospitality standards, positioning Malaysia as a preferred destination for Muslim travellers worldwide,” he said in a statement posted on his social media on Tuesday (March 31).
The Ministry is closely monitoring air connectivity, airfare trends, and flight frequencies, while Tourism Malaysia has been directed to provide daily reporting on international arrivals and market movements.
“Officers at overseas offices are also tasked with providing real-time market updates and strategic recommendations to enable timely, data-driven decision-making,” he added.
Tiong stressed that Malaysia remains a safe, stable, and welcoming destination.
“The Ministry will work closely with industry stakeholders to address operational challenges, including fuel and diesel-related cost pressures, and encourages the sector to provide detailed feedback to support effective policy measures,” he said.
Amid ongoing global uncertainties, the Minister called on all parties to act responsibly and avoid spreading misinformation or politically motivated narratives that could undermine public confidence.
“The government, under the leadership of Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim), remains fully committed to safeguarding national interests and ensuring economic stability.
“Our priority remains firm: to safeguard stability, reinforce resilience, and sustain the continued growth of Malaysia’s tourism sector and broader economy,” he affirmed.
Tiong stressed that the current situation stems from unprecedented global disruption arising from ongoing geopolitical conflicts, whose scale and impact extend far beyond any isolated market conditions in the past.
He said that it is therefore neither appropriate nor responsible to draw selective or simplistic comparisons with previous periods, particularly in relation to fuel prices or economic responses, as such narratives risk distorting public understanding.
“At a time when the global environment is being shaped by extraordinary external pressures, all parties must exercise greater responsibility. Attempts to mislead, inflame sentiment, or exploit the situation for narrow interests are deeply unhelpful and undermine collective efforts to safeguard economic stability.
“Malaysia’s priority remains clear. We will act decisively, responsibly, and in the best interest of the rakyat to ensure our economy remains stable, resilient, and forward-looking despite external uncertainties,” he concluded. — DayakDaily
English (US) ·