Bernama

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Ministry of Finance (MOF) will allocate adequate funds to the tourism sector in preparation for Malaysia's role as Asean Chair in 2025 and the Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

Finance MInister II,Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said Malaysia has a significant opportunity to enhance global awareness of its tourism sector through its Asean chairmanship.

"The year 2026 will also be Visit Malaysia Year, so we must prepare for both events. Tourism is a crucial sector because it rapidly generates revenue for the country.

"Fortunately, this year we are seeing positive trends, with Malaysia expected to welcome more tourists than before the COVID-19 pandemic," he told reporters after a meeting with Terengganu tourism stakeholders regarding the 2025 Budget at the Terengganu Museum here today.

He added that while discussions on the tourism sector were held in Terengganu, MOF would incorporate insights from the engagement session to enhance tourism nationwide in next year's budget.

"Firstly, with the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 approaching, we must improve or maintain infrastructure across the country. We will identify priority areas to upgrade, ensuring better comfort for tourists.

"Secondly, there were suggestions to support those in the industry through incentives or skill development, such as training as tour guides. We will explore this further with the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry (MOTAC)," he added.

Amir Hamzah also shared that during MOF's ninth engagement session with industry players, there were requests to tailor financing infrastructure more appropriately for tourism sector stakeholders.

"This Budget 2025 roadshow aims to gather comprehensive feedback, ensuring the creation of a more focused budget that will strengthen the national economy," he said.