PETALING JAYA: A call for cultural awareness rings loud as tourism stakeholders emphasise the importance of educating visitors about local customs.

This comes in light of yet another case of improper dressing or behaviour by foreign tourists after two men were fined for indecent dressing during a running event in Johor.

Travellers should also learn about the countries they are visiting, they say.

Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Nigel Wong said all stakeholders are duty-bound to educate their guests about Malaysian customs and practices.

Stakeholders here, he explained, refer not only to tour groups but also travel agencies, event organisers and even government agencies.

“Those entering the country may not be fully aware of the dos and don’ts in Malaysian society, just as Malaysians may not know the norms in countries they visit.

“Hence, a collective effort is needed to ensure guests are properly informed,” he said.

Wong is, however, not in favour of social etiquette guidelines being introduced.

“We should just advise the guests of the norms in advance.”

Malaysia Tourism Federation president Datuk Tan Kok Liang suggested that tourists sign up for organised tourism packages so that they can learn local etiquette from certified guides.

“However, I do believe that these tourists should have common sense in the dos and don’ts in a foreign country,” he said.

Commenting on the need for spelling out guidelines for tourists, Tan said it should not be a priority as the tourists should already be aware of what they can and cannot do in a foreign country.

He also said the recent incidents involving tourists acting indecently were isolated cases and should not affect the tourism industry as a whole.

“Out of millions that visited Malaysia, there could be only one or two such incidents.

“We welcome them here, but the tourists should also do their homework before coming,” he said.

Penang Tour Guides Association immediate past president PC Chin concurred, saying that local travel etiquette should be made known to foreigners ahead of their arrival.

She added that, for tourists who take organised tours, the guides have the responsibility to inform their clients about the local culture.

“If guidelines are to be introduced, maybe we just list out the common ones, such as tipping.

“There is no country that could explicitly print out these guidelines except for those with very strict rules,” Chin added.

Last Monday, a Taiwanese and an Indian national were fined RM5,000 each at a Magistrate’s Court in Kota Tinggi, Johor, after pleading guilty to wearing indecent clothes during the run in Pengerang.

Recently, Sabah police investigated a woman for posing nude at Jalan Gaya, Kota Kinabalu.

In 2015, four tourists were jailed and fined for posing naked on Mount Kinabalu. The tourists – Briton Eleanor Hawkins, Canadians Lindsey and Danielle Peterson, and Dutchman Dylan Snel – admitted to causing a public disturbance.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/10/10/respect-the-local-customs