Tourism ministry proposes 4-tier plan to reactivate sector

The tourism, arts and culture ministry is proposing to the National Security Council that tourism activities in the country be reactivated in phases.

The proposal entails four tiers with Tier 1 allowing intra-district travel and tourism activities within the district, Tier 2 allowing inter-district travel and tourism, Tier 3 allowing interstate travel and tourism, and Tier 4, international travel/inbound tourists.

The ministry in a statement today said it had also implemented several initiatives to help ease the burden of the tourism industry.

These include the relaxation of compound matters under the Tourism Industry Act 1992 (Act 482) such as a compound payment discount of 40% for all tour operators and licensed tour guides compounded by the ministry before Dec 30, 2021.

Another initiative is the licence-fee exemption for tour operators and tourist guides licensed under Act 482 and the relaxation of licence requirements for tour operators such as for rental of business premises by co-sharing office space until Dec 31, 2021.

The ministry said it had also prepared a framework to revive the tourism sector in three phases in line with the National Recovery Plan, to help the government speed up the vaccination programme and make the Covid-19 Free Destination Programme a success.

For the first phase, it said Langkawi and Kuching had been selected as pilot travel destinations for the Covid-19 Free Destination Programme.

For the second phase, the programme will be expanded to other popular resort islands such as Redang, Perhentian, Pangkor and Tioman as well as other main attractions in various states such as Johor, Melaka, Penang and Sabah while the third phase will involve other main destinations.

“The programme includes efforts to increase the capacity to vaccinate the local population,” it said, adding that it was working closely with the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force to utilise existing public vaccination centres to accelerate the vaccination programme for tourism frontliners.