How Malaysian tour operators are keeping tourists safe amid Covid-19 fear


A Malaysia Airports employee wearing a protective face mask at the KL International Airport. — SAMSUL SAD/Bloomberg

The Visit Malaysia 2020 (VM2020) campaign started with a bang, literally, when fireworks and drone formations welcomed the launch of the tourism campaign at the historic Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, at the start of the year. But that jubilant tone is now dampened by the current Covid-19 coronavirus crisis, which has affected the tourism industry globally.

In Malaysia, local tour operators are facing over 3,000 tour group cancellations. And according to the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), room cancellations have picked up since the Chinese New Year holidays, when the Chinese government issued a ban on its citizens from booking overseas tours, flights and hotels.

Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 11.12/month

Billed as RM 11.12 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 9.87/month

Billed as RM 118.40 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Travel

Istanbul and other friendly 'cat cities' you can visit around the world
South African hotelier offers cash to locals to keep island clean for tourism
This small island on the French coast produces one of the best forms of salt
In Semporna, sustainable tourism is the dream
Finland has a festival of nature listening, dubbed 'Quietchella'
Five budget-friendly European cities to discover in early autumn
Malaysian buddies brave the cold to enjoy a cool holiday in Harbin
The Big Pink Walk returns to Desaru Coast for its 2026 edition this Oct 10
Catch Mohsein Kush live at Selangor Mega Food Fest 2026 this weekend
Unleashing the potential of Cameron Highlands

Others Also Read