JOHOR BARU: Players in the tourism industry are expecting a busy time with Christmas celebrations and year-end holidays coming, but many are adopting the “look and see” attitude and gauging political developments before deciding on their holiday destination.
Johor Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) chairman K.
Subramaniam said tour companies had received a high number of inquiries from the public about both domestic and international travel.
“So far, not many have made bookings.
Perhaps this is due to the political uncertainties post-GE15.
“But once things are settled and stable, people will take that much-needed break and travel again,” he said when contacted.
He added that besides locals travelling, an increase in the number of foreign tourists coming to Malaysia was expected between the end of November and December.
“Usually, we will see many tourists from Singapore, India and Indonesia coming here for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
“Hopefully, we will see the tourism industry picking up.
It will be good for the country,” he added.
Malaysia Tour Guides Association president Jimmy Leong said the year’s end would be a long season for those in the tourism industry.
He said Singaporeans would start to travel across the Causeway to enter Malaysia for holidays and to do their Christmas shopping.
“Tour buses from Singapore are expected to come over here for the festive season ahead, which is good for us.
“Besides Singaporeans, we are also expecting good numbers of avid golfers from South Korea and Japan to escape the winter season and come here.
“During winter, golf courses in South Korea and Japan will be closed and they would come here with their families and play golf as we have many golf courses available all year round,” he added.
