Visit Johor Year 2020 campaign affected but safety of M'sians top priority, says exco member

JOHOR BARU: The Wuhan coronavirus outbreak has affected the Visit Johor Year 2020 campaign, says an exco member.

State tourism, women, family and community development committee chairman Liow Cai Tung said despite that, the most important thing for the state government right now was to focus on the wellbeing of locals.

She added that the state government would only conduct the next tourism strategy after the coronavirus situation has been fully contained.

"The state government has always put the people's safety as the top priority and we will continue to work together with the Johor Health Department and share any important updates with the people.

"China has also imposed a travel ban on affected areas starting Jan 23 and we hope that this can reduce the number of incoming tourists and help improve the situation," she said in a statement on Sunday (Jan 26).

Liow added that the public should get their information from verified sources and not to share any news from an unknown source.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Johor chapter chairman Ivan Teo said that MAH Johor and the Malaysia Budget Hotel Association (Mybha) Johor have allowed free room cancellations for tourists from China.

“Hotels have also provided free facemasks and hand sanitizers at their premises and all of the members have experience in handling outbreaks during the SARS outbreak in 2003.

“Our associations are also working closely with the Singaporean consulate office regarding tourists who are coming from the country to Johor,” he said.