Tourism Ministry to empower Muslim-friendly industry players

KUALA LUMPUR: Muslim-friendly tourism industry players will be given capacity-building courses to empower the sector, says Tiong King Sing.

The Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister said this was one of several ministry initiatives to boost Malaysia's image as a preferred Muslim-friendly destination.

"Among the initiatives implemented are the Muslim-friendly tourism and hospitality assurance and recognition programme as well as launching Muslim-friendly tourism packages for the Asian, Middle Eastern and European markets," he said in his winding-up speech in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Oct 31).

Tiong said the implementation of the effort would be under the purview of his deputy Khairul Firdaus Akhbar Khan.

"Any state government that wishes to take the opportunity to introduce Muslim-friendly tourism destinations can discuss it with the deputy minister or the responsible agency, which is the Islamic Tourism Centre," he said.

In August, the ministry said that it aimed to achieve a total 3.2 million Muslim visitors this year which would generate total tourism income amounting to RM49.2bil.