MALAYSIA TO COOPERATE TO MAKE TOURISM NUCLEUS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
JAKARTA, Feb 13 Asia Pulse – Malaysia is ready to extend its fullest cooperation to countries in the region to make tourism the nucleus for socio-economic development and well-being of nations and communities at large.
Tourism Minister Dr Leo Michael Toyad said Malaysia had some experience as its tourism industry had generated more than 372,300 jobs, representing 3.7 per cent of total employment in the country directly and 10.1 per cent of total employment when its indirect impacts are taken into account.
“Malaysia’s tourism industry is now regarded as one of the new sources of growth for the country to achieve its developed nation status by 2020,” he told Bernama Friday at the end of his four-day visit to Indonesia of 230 million population.
Dr Toyad said he shared Malaysia’s experience at the International Conference on Cultural Tourism and Local Communities in Yogyakarta on Wednesday, calling on local communities throughout the region to take the opportunity to enhance their standard of living through the tourism industry and at the same time contribute to the country’s prosperity.
In fact, Malaysia encouraged local communities to participate in tourism-related activities such as the homestay and handicraft activities, he said, adding that the main idea was to help supplement the household income of the local communities especially those located in rural areas so that they enjoyed a better standard of living.
Malaysia was among 31 countries at the two-day conference opened by Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Abu Rizal Bakrie. It was also attended by Indonesia’s Tourism Minister Jero Wacik.
Citing an example, Dr Toyad said through the Tourism Ministry’s efforts, there were currently 79 registered homestay enterprises undertaken by local communities involving 1,089 families with income between US$200-US$300 a month, thereby providing opportunities to participate in tourism activities.
Besides that, it also gave opportunities to tourists to experience the traditional Malay and kampung lifestyle, he said, adding that similarly, there were now 13 handicraft centres providing employment and income to more than 1,853 people throughout the country.
On cultural tourism, Dr Toyad said it had always been alluring to tourist and in fact, cultural tourism had formed an important component of international travel and tourism industry of the world presently.
“But cultural tourism is not just confined to tangible aspects of cultural heritages like historical sites and monuments. It also includes festivals, performing arts, cultural events, as well as travel for pilgrims as important components of cultural tourism,” he said.
Citing United Nations World Tourism Organisation’s view that cultural tourism was also about immersion in and enjoyment of lifestyle of the local people, the local area and what constituted its identity and character, he said cultural tourism too had been an important part of Malaysia’s tourism promotion.
The tagline “Malaysia Truly Asia” speaks for itself of the cultural dimension as one of Malaysia’s main tourism product; the people and the culture, ethnicity and diversity in heritage, he said.
As a tool for cultural conservation and enrichment, he said, Citrawarna Malaysia (Colours of Malaysia) showcasing the country’s kaleidoscope of arts, culture and tradition was introduced in 1999 and held nationwide for a month every year, during which about 70 cultural activities were organised.
(BERNAMA-OANA)
