KUALA LUMPUR: The tourism sector is expected to generate earnings of RM375.3bil in the next three years, the Dewan Rakyat heard.
Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said this projection was based on anticipated increases in tourist arrivals leading up to and including Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
"For this year, we estimate about 27.3 million tourist arrivals generating income of about RM102.7bil.
"The number of arrivals is expected to increase to 31.4 million in 2025, generating income of RM125.5bil.
"During Visit Malaysia Year 2026, we estimate about 35.6 million tourists who will generate income of about RM147.1bil," he said in reply to Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau (PH-Tuaran) on Monday (March 11).
He acknowledged, however, that industry players and airline operators affected by the Covid-19 pandemic had yet to fully recover.
"As for connectivity, some airlines were unable to optimise their aircraft usage due to the pandemic but are actively working towards (restoring) their operations," he said.
Madius had raised the lack of domestic flights which could hamper the tourism sector.
Meanwhile, Khairul Firdaus said records showed that some 80% of tourist arrivals are from the Asean region.
He informed the House that the ministry is actively engaged in promoting Malaysia as a premier tourist destination to remain competitive amid competition from several nations in the region.
He added that this included participating in the recent International Tourisme Bourse (ITB) Berlin, World Travel Market (WTM) London, Arabian Travel Mart (ATM) Dubai and the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF).
"This is important to ensure that the Malaysia Truly Asia brand remains the choice of tourists around the world.
"Even more so when there is continuous aggressive competition from countries that are promoting their own destinations at these international fairs," he added.
To boost the tourism sector, he said Melaka, Perak, Perlis and Kelantan are currently promoting the states under their respective Visit 2024 campaigns.
