KUALA LUMPUR: Despite positive strides in international tourist arrivals this year, the numbers have yet to reach pre-Covid-19 levels.
The newly elected president of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (MITA), Mint Leong Hoon Min, shared this today at the MITA Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Tengku Sulaiman Shah Al-Haj, the Tengku Laksamana of Selangor and patron of MITA, was also present at the AGM.
Leong acknowledged that while 2023 has seen a more encouraging influx of tourists than last year, a full recovery to pre-2019 levels has yet to be achieved.
The weak ringgit has played a role in the increased tourist arrivals this year, making accommodations and shopping more affordable for visitors.
Leong highlighted the importance of leveraging the current weak position of the ringgit to attract more travellers, particularly business travellers.
She emphasised that the visa-free exemption for travellers from China and India further enhances Malaysia's competitiveness as a tourist destination.
While domestic tourism received significant support from Malaysians in the initial years of the pandemic, there is now a trend of locals opting for overseas travel.
Leong noted that Malaysians increasingly choose neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Thailand for international travel.
However, fewer Malaysians travel to Singapore due to the weakened ringgit.
