KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) is looking at travel bubble destinations to spur domestic tourism including destinations which involve inter-state travel.
Its Minister Dato Sri Nancy Shukri said Motac is looking at opening up other tourism destinations within the country both on the mainland and islands for domestic tourism following the federal government’s decision to open up Langkawi on September 16 as the first travel bubble destination after lockdowns.
“InsyaAllah (God willing) within these few days, we will be discussing about inter-state,” she said in Parliament here today.
Nancy was responding to a supplementary question from Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman who asked Motac to hasten the opening up of other destinations within the country as travel bubble destinations and not just opening up island such as Langkawi as travel bubble.
Nancy added Motac has listed down the tourist destinations both islands and mainlands in Malaysia to be allowed to reopen soon.
Among destinations Motac is considering are Genting Highlands, Cameron Highlands, Fraser’s Hill and others.
Nancy believed the opening up of other tourism hotspots is important to provide income and employment for tourism industry players.
On another note, Nancy said rural tourism is a hidden gem which should be promoted internationally as most of the products from rural tourism, which has good potential was not capitalised upon during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Thus, she believed it is a good opportunity to promote rural tourism in the new norm. — DayakDaily
