KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 — Various campaigns and promotions for the country’s tourism industry are now focused on virtual methods due to the constraints caused by the Covid-19 pandemic today, with a focus on domestic tourism.

Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Musa Yusof said although the tourism industry was among the most affected, the government was prepared with various development plans and promotions for the effective implementation of the movement control order (MCO) now and after the end of Covid-19.

"The tourism landscape of the country after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic will change dramatically, not only in our country but also globally, so we have to be well prepared.

"Whether in the tourism industry or at the level of consumers (tourists) need to be ready (to travel within Malaysia). These two elements have already been seen and discussed earlier since the very beginning when Covid-19 was first detected in China,” he said.

Musa was a guest on the Selamat Pagi Malaysia talk show on RTM1 today which discussed the topic "Pelan Pelancongan Promosi Masa Hadapan” (Future Tourism Promotion Plans). 

Following the Covid-19 outbreak, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry had earlier announced the current estimate of losses faced by the country’s tourism industry players such as in the accommodation, transport, shopping, food and beverage sectors as well as the organisation of business events for the period January to March 2020, exceeding RM9 billion.

Therefore, according to Musa the government together with all industry players, have redefined tourism strategies through various seminars held via webinars to reform the country’s tourism sector from various aspects including product offerings.

"Because after this everyone in the tourism sector must understand that ‘business is not as usual’, so we have to adjust to ensure the country’s tourism industry is kept alive and able to compete.

"Physical promotion efforts such as tourism fairs are no longer possible but we have been conducting virtual promotions. Before Covid-19 we did have this platform but now we are optimising the role of this medium by promoting tourism via ‘e- travel fair’,” he said.

During the MCO, Musa said the government was also promoting the "Cuti-Cuti Malaysia” campaign in the country by organising various competitions by agencies under the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry including a competition to make a travel video #dreamnowtraveltomorrow.

The public is encouraged to participate in the making of the creative video using the song titled Cuti-Cuti Malaysia or Visit Malaysia Truly Asia and the chance to win a variety of travel packages in the country. More information can be found on the website www.malaysia.travel. — Bernama