KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC) is gearing up to launch a Muslim-friendly tourism package as early as next month.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, said this initiative aims to attract Muslim travellers from the Middle East and China by offering creative and enticing luxury tourism packages, including golf and medical tourism.
MOTAC, he said, is actively planning this endeavour and is receiving support from Tourism Malaysia for marketing efforts in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
“We are ready to assist in developing Muslim-friendly tourism packages, ensuring a perfect holiday experience,” he said in a Facebook post.
To this end, MOTAC is urging relevant stakeholders to organise courses aimed at offering insights to tourism professionals on catering to the needs and preferences of Muslim tourists.
“I request that the involved parties organise a course and training this month with the aim of engaging a minimum of 200 participants to obtain relevant certificates.
“We (also) have engaged with various associations representing the Malaysian tourism industry, including the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), the Malaysian Association of Tourist Transportation (MATT), and the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (MITA).
“We discussed various matters related to the country’s tourism industry, including methods to enhance international promotion, developing the Muslim-friendly market, creating industry consensus, providing subsidies and assistance to tourism entrepreneurs, and more,” he added.
In a separate matter, Tiong said that MOTAC has received complaints about the unfriendly treatment of tourists at various attractions, such as Jalan Alor.
He said local businesses have been accused of overpricing goods, including food and beverages, which has resulted in three to four times the usual prices for foreign tourists.
“Such dishonest practices tarnish Malaysia’s image as a popular tourism destination and can deter visitors from choosing Jalan Alor,” he said.
As such, Tiong stressed that these actions are illegal, and he warned industry players to address these concerns promptly.
