Special tourism investment zones will be identified to attract hard infrastructure investment and technology-based investment in the tourism sector, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.
The designated tourism spots will be announced under the National Tourism Policy which will be unveiled in September.
"Malaysia will designate strategic 'special tourism investment zones' throughout the country," he told the World Tourism Conference 2019 held in Kuala Lumpur.
Later, when asked about the locations of the zones, he said: "It's all over (the country). I mean, for shopping, there are shopping centres, like Pavilion and KLCC.
"I want to tell people that in Malaysia, many things are tax-free and the prices are cheap because the cost of living in Malaysia is low," he said.
Meanwhile, Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry secretary-general Isham Ishak said the National Tourism Policy, which will outline the government's direction on the sector until 2030, is important for the country to move away from the traditional way of promoting tourism.
"This is so when Malaysia needs to compete with neighbouring countries, namely Thailand and Indonesia, to attract tourists.
"Investors want certainty because it will be a long-term investment and tourism is a sector that is risky to investors," he told a press conference.
Isham said investors will have confidence in their investment in these designated areas as special tourism investment zones are backed by the government in terms of incentives, policy, facilities, land, water, electricity and building permits.
He said he expects more high-value investment to pour into the tourism industry after the designated zones are announced. - Mkini
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