If tourism is a business that requires the least expenditure but gives the maximum return within the shortest time, then the government should invest more in this industry and not just the private sector.
However, the development of any industry is not just spending on marketing promotions but also to develop human capital in order to raise productivity, increase efficiency, reduce wastage, plug leakages and curb illegal activities.
But the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) is run on an overly tight budget with its Tourism Licensing Division busy with issuing and renewing many tens of thousands of licences and tourism vehicle permits annually, with little time left for enforcement.
The common complaint among licensed operators is that they are hauled up for the slightest of infringements while unlicensed operators are having a field day, getting away scot-free with illegal businesses and often cheating or short-changing domestic and foreign tourists.
Although the tourism industry is aware that Motac is shorthanded, with licensing officers doubling up as enforcement, our tourism industry will not be healthy as long as illegal activities are allowed to fester.
The key performance indicator (KPI) of any ministry is measured by the health of the industry and the jury should be those who have made substantial investments in the industry. But if the KPI is set internally, it runs the risk of being a syiok sendiri exercise.
Budget 2020 should allocate adequate funding to Motac so that its tourism licensing and industry development divisions could play more effective roles in raising ethics and standards of our tourism industry, which is the third largest contributor to the country’s economy.
However, there will never be enough of enforcement officers for any government agency, and they cannot be present everywhere all the time. As such, the private sector should be roped in to be the eyes and ears on the ground.
Motac can take a leaf from the Melaka police which created a Volunteer Smartphone Patrol (VSP) app for the public to send a picture, video footage or GPS coordinates of illegal activities. Getting offenders to appear at Motac’s office and recording their statements could deter many to stop their antics. Serious cases or repeat offenders must be brought to court.
Actions taken must be posted on Motac’s website to show the ministry mean business in tackling illegal activities. This would discourage those on the sly from pushing their luck further and at the same time boost the confidence of law-abiding tourism industry players.
It will be a great day when tourists and tourism industry players give Motac the thumbs up. It will happen when the ministry receives more funding, not just for marketing promotions but also raising headcount in its licensing division and human capital in the tourism industry.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the New Sarawak Tribune.
