Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing stated that the government's efforts to promote tourism should not be entangled in political and racial issues, but rather focus on revitalizing the national economy.
He pointed out that his department is doing its utmost to increase the number of tourists from all countries, but this initiative has faced opposition for being perceived as prioritizing tourists from China.
He expressed concerns over the political and racial issues raised by a small group of people, particularly those targeting Chinese tourists, and believes this will hinder the government's efforts to boost economic growth.
He emphasized at a recent press conference that the Ministry of Tourism is committed to attracting tourists without involving political and religious factors, instead focusing on creating business opportunities for the people and promoting national economic development.
“I urge everyone to cooperate (in attracting tourists). It is not only Malaysia (that is attracting Chinese tourists); Saudi Arabia is also actively promoting itself to China, inviting them to visit (Saudi Arabia), as China is the largest market and consumer group.”
Tiong King Sing noted that the arrival of Chinese tourists will undoubtedly impact the national economy and benefit merchants, especially small vendors in inland areas.
He said that to compete with neighboring countries with greater tourism appeal like Thailand, all parties should focus on making Malaysia an attractive tourist destination, rather than criticizing tourists, especially Chinese tourists.
“For us, the important thing is to develop the economy. We should not associate everything with politics and race, otherwise, we cannot achieve the Vision 2026 Visit Malaysia Year and the 2025 ASEAN vision.”
Tiong King Sing pointed out that the number of tourists from January to November this year was 34.2 million, including 22.5 million tourists and 11.7 million visitors (pelawat), which has exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
On the other hand, he reiterated that there is nothing wrong with promoting bilingualism on business signs, but agreed that everyone should abide by the law.
However, he said that the enforcement approach seems to have left a negative impression on local residents and tourists.
He pointed out that authorities should communicate with businesses and issue notices to comply with regulations, rather than directly removing signs deemed inappropriate.
Tiong King Sing also advised former Rembau MP Khairy not to incite political sentiments over signboard issues on the podcast platform.
“He (Khairy) was also a minister before; he was part of the government. If he is really dissatisfied with certain things, he can come to me, and we can discuss it. Otherwise, he should make more constructive and beneficial suggestions for the country.”