KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 27): Now that the Covid-19 vaccines are here, Malaysia’s tourism industry, which has been battered, is finally heading for a recovery, or is it? 

It will eventually. Experts are saying the government is not engaging with players and that we are not prepared for border reopening and are at a risk of losing out.

Recovery for the industry is expected to be in pockets and new trends will emerge.

Domestic tourism will recover first but until international tourism does — at a much later stage — tour and travel agent businesses are in danger.

Everything boils down to when borders will reopen and when it will be safe to travel.  

The Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri says plans are afoot for travel bubbles and reciprocal green lane travel arrangements. She expects to see some improvement and shares her views on when tourism will recover.

After all, foreign exchange from tourism, which has been the second highest foreign exchange earner for the country, has now dropped to the fourth position. What is the impact of this on the economy?   

As the gradual rollout of Covid-19 vaccines helps to restore consumer confidence in aviation, airlines and airports are pushing countries around the world to introduce vaccine passports or travel passes as well as travel bubbles to hasten the reopening of borders.

The Edge cover story this week also looks at tourism and tourism-related stocks that are now on a slow and steady recovery path, after being battered down last year.

Get the full story in this week’s issue.

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