Malaysia to use Smart Tourism 4.0 initiative to help the tourism sector recover

“Smart Tourism 4.0” is a project to improve the sector by leveraging technological innovations

Despite the reopening of Malaysia’s international borders on April 1, the country’s tourism sector is still battling to recover, with foreign tourist arrivals still low. Malaysian Association of Tours and Travel Agents (Matta) president Datuk Tan Kok Liang attributes this to the uncertainty caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the rising cost of travel, and primary markets still being closed.

He also told Malay Mail that the country’s journey to recovery has only started, especially since the government only eased COVID-19 testing requirements on 1 May. Until the end of Q2 2022, the tourist business is still primarily a domestic market, as locals find it easier to travel within the country.

More: Reopening of the Singapore-Malaysia borders causes a surge in business in Johor

“The travel segment ‘visit friends and relatives’ and business travel are picking up, but the leisure segment appears slow. Hopefully, it will pick up during the third and fourth quarter of the year,” he said.

The Malaysian government unveiled the National Tourism Policy (NTP) on 23 December 2020 to support the country’s tourism industry until 2030. Part of its goal is to develop Malaysia into a popular tourist destination for foreign visitors, according to KrAsia.

“Smart Tourism 4.0” is a project to improve the sector by leveraging technological innovations. It aims to enhance visitor experiences, boost Malaysia’s competitiveness, and promote sustainability through ecotourism. Travel-focused firms like LokaLocal, Tourplus, and Moovby have been collaborating with government organisations to make this a reality.

The concept is intended to make traveling easier by using information and communication technologies. Tourism applications and social media play critical roles in enhancing this travel experience.

Tourism accounted for 15.9 percent of Malaysia’s GDP in 2019. A significant impact was however caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Arrivals plunged from 26.10 million in 2019 to 130,000 in 2021, according to Tourism Malaysia. Over the same period, tourist receipts fell from MYR86.1 billion (USD19.6 billion) to MYR240 million (USD54.6 million).

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].