Efforts underway to woo new countries, second-tier cities

Warm hospitality: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry says it is shifting away from the capital cities of Asean nations to lesser-known ones to promote Malaysian tourism. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star

PETALING JAYA: With the post-pandemic period affecting tourism, Malaysia is now looking at new countries and second-tier cities across Asean countries to woo visitors.

Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines have been the long-standing cornerstones of Malaysia’s tourism industry. These six nations have ranked among the top 10 contributors to international tourist arrivals, accounting for approximately 74% of the market share.