ZAHID: VMY 2020 A CATALYST FOR TOURISM INDUSTRY

It ensures nation achieves target under Tourism Transformation Plan

DATUK Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has described Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2020 as a national mission and a major catalyst for the tourism industry to ensure Malaysia remains competitive.

The deputy prime minister said VMY, themed “Travel. Enjoy. Respect”, would be the core agenda in achieving the country’s tourism target under the Malaysia Tourism Transformation Plan.

In realising this, Zahid, who is also home minister, said a VMY2020 Secretariat had been established under Tourism Malaysia, which is tasked with planning and organising activities for the campaign.

“All relevant ministries, government agencies and departments are prepared to give their full commitment to make sure the campaign achieves its target,” he said after chairing the Tourism Cabinet Committee Meeting here yesterday.

Present were Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim and Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali.

Zahid said the meeting was held to coordinate ministries and agencies to further develop the tourism industry.

Last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had announced during the tabling of the 2018 Budget that the country’s tourism campaign (VMY) was set to make a return in 2020.

VMY was first launched in 1990, and subsequently held in 1994, 2007 and 2014.

Zahid said the tourism industry was among the major contributors to the country’s service industry, contributing 14.8 per cent or RM182.4 billion to the gross domestic product.

“In the National Key Economic Areas, the industry was the third largest contributor at RM73.3 billion to the gross national income. Total employment in the tourism industry was 3.2 million people or 22.7 per cent of the total employment in 2016.”

A total of 25.94 million tourists visited Malaysia last year, a slight decrease of three percent from the year before, Zahid said.

“This was due to the decrease in Asean tourist arrivals (3.9 per cent) last year. A total of 75.1 per cent of tourists to Malaysia are from Asean countries as they continue to dominate tourist arrivals.”

He said Malaysia had received recognitions last year, including “World No. 1 Best Healthcare Destination” by InternationalLiving.com and “World’s Top Muslim-Friendly Destination” by the Mastercard-Crescent-Rating Global Muslims Travel Index.

Yesterday, the committee discussed three issues: problems faced by Iranians in participating in the Malaysia My Second Home programme, handing over of the management of umrah and pilgrimage packages to the Prime Minister’s Department, and the extension of the visa period for Saudi Arabians to Malaysia.