Malaysian Economy Showing Positive Growth In Transition To Endemic Phase - PM

KUALA TERENGGANU (Terengganu, Malaysia), May 21 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian economy has shown positive growth since the country entered the transition to endemic phase, in turn bringing much relief to all sectors, including tourism. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said tourism was one of the main contributing sectors to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Immigration Department statistics showed that as of May 12, Malaysia had received 604,457 foreigners since Malaysia reopened its borders on April 1, he said. “A total of 93.8 per cent of them or 567,025 people were tourists,” he said in his speech here Friday night. The prime minister said when the reopening of Malaysia’s borders was announced, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) had set a target of about two million foreign tourists this year with a revenue of US$1.95 billion (RM8.6 billion). Ismail Sabri said the government had allocated US$52.40 million (RM230 million) in Budget 2022 under the Tourism Recovery Plan which provided benefits to arts, culture and heritage activists in the tourism sectors. “I’m sure we can rise again to live in peace and harmony by working hard to improve the country’s economy. All these efforts reflect our inclusivity, togetherness and gratitude as a big Malaysian Family,” he said. -- BERNAMA