Commentary by Mich Goh, Head of Public Policy, South East Asia, Airbnb:
Malaysia’s National Budget 2020 saw a series of investments that will contribute to the growth of the tourism industry in Malaysia.
We welcome the allocation of RM1.1 billion for the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) for the Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign, and the continued focus on promoting “Malaysia Truly Asia” as part of the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030.
With the influx of tourists expected in the coming year, a priority for Malaysia tourism must be ensuring tourism grows responsibly and sustainably. At Airbnb, we believe our community-based model promotes responsible travel and offers a sustainable alternative to mass travel.
We are also in support of the government’s increased focus on arts and culture through its various incentives and grants. Since the launch of Airbnb Experiences in Malaysia in 2018, we have observed that tourists are increasingly discovering Malaysia through exploring its unique arts and culture.
We believe that National Budget 2020 represents a positive step forward in strengthening Malaysia’s tourism industry. Airbnb is committed to doing everything we can to support the work of local authorities and sustainably grow Malaysian tourism towards achieving its target of 30 million tourist arrivals, and RM100 billion in tourism receipts through our unique Homes, Experiences and hospitable local hosts.
