MOTAC TO REVIEW TOURISM INDUSTRY ACT, ENGAGE STAKEHOLDERS

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC) will conduct a review of the Tourism Industry Act (AIP) 1992 (Act 482), said Deputy Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan.

He said the ministry will hold discussions with industry stakeholders to gather feedback before making any final decisions.

"MOTAC is committed to consulting with and receiving feedback from industry players," he said in response to a question from Salamiah Mohd Nor (PN-Temerloh) during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Salamiah had asked if MOTAC would consider revising or repealing Section 6(1)(i)(iii) of the AIP 1992, which mandates that every tour bus be accompanied by a tour guide. She said this requirement burdens domestic tour bus operators who cater to small-scale, local tourists rather than foreign visitors.

Khairul Firdaus replied that the AIP regulations are designed to support the local tourism ecosystem, addressing the needs of tour operators, tour guides, tourism training institutions, tourism vehicles, and the registration and classification of tourist accommodation facilities.

He added that the ministry provides flexibility by allowing tour bus operators to apply for exemptions from the tour guide requirement in specific cases, provided they meet certain criteria.

In response to a separate question from Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) on MOTAC's preparations for Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2026, Khairul Firdaus said that the ministry intends to leverage Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship next year to promote the VMY 2026 campaign.

"As host of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), Malaysia will seize this opportunity to showcase our tourism offerings to ASEAN member nations, aiming to attract more visitors from the region in 2026," he added.

-- BERNAMA