Malaysia expects to welcome 2 million visitors this year
Malaysia’s Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) Minister Nancy Shukri said the country is expected to receive two million international tourists this year with revenue of more than 8.6 billion RM when reopening its borders on April 1.
Nancy said there are about 100 flights scheduled to arrive at Malaysia's airports on April 1. (Photo: The Edge)
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) –Malaysia’s Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) Minister Nancy Shukri said thecountry is expected to receive two million international tourists this year with revenue of more than 8.6 billion RM when reopening its borders on April 1.
The reopening of the country’s borders is hopedto revitalise the tourism industry, she said adding that about 100 flights arrivedat Malaysian airports, carrying more than 10,000 passengers, including foreigntourists on April 1 alone.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director General of theMinistry of Internal Affairs Zakaria Shaaban said that immigration controlpoints at 183 border gates across the country are ready to receive tourists. At the same time, the country plans to open more checkpoints when necessary.
Malaysia Airlines General Manager, IskandarMizal Mahmood said that to facilitate the immigration process, volunteers andtask forces have been mobilised at airports to assist tourists, especially inusing the software application installed on mobile phones MySejahtera – an integratedsoftware including visitor information and vaccination certificate - over atwo-week period.
Earlier, Nancysaid about 1,000 international tourists are expectedto arrive in Malaysia on the first day when the Southeast Asian country movesto consider COVID-19 an endemic disease.
♌ According to the official, most of the visitorscame from Singapore via land and air entry points./.
Immigration services at entry points will be back to their pre-pandemic strength in anticipation of large crowds of travelers and an influx of foreign workers as the country reopens its borders on April 1, Malaysia's Immigration Department Director-General Khairul Dzaimee Daud said.
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob witnessed the signing and exchange of nine cooperation agreements between Malaysian companies and their international business partners at the World Expo 2020 Dubai in the UAE on March 30.
The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture of Malaysia Nancy Shukri expects the reopening of Malaysia’s tourism industry to be sustained by tourists from neighbouring countries.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Nancy said there are about 100 flights scheduled to arrive at Malaysia's airports on April 1. (Photo: The Edge) 
