The Malaysian Budget 2013 was tabled yesterday on 28th September 2012. I was so looking forward to more incentives for the tourism industry players.

The only pointers for tourism is just this:

Intensifying Tourism Sector

28. The tourism industry is one of the key economic growth sectors, contributing almost 12% to GDP. Total revenue generated from the tourism sector is estimated to increase to RM62 billion in 2012. In conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2013/2014, the Government has allocated RM358 million under development expenditure, an increase of 42%, to target 26.8 million tourist arrivals. In addition, for tour operators who bring in at least 750 foreign tourists or handle 1,500 local tourists a year, the Government proposes that the income tax exemption be extended for 3 years.

Last budget in 2012, there was two plans and they are:

- To promote tourism, the Langkawi Five Year Tourism Development Master Plan will be launched with an allocation of RM420mil

- The Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council will be privatised to promote and develop Malaysia as a healthcare destination

Maybe this year’s focus was to benefit the small and medium income rakyats. But then again, tourism is a good industry to benefit the similar group of people! It is also sustainable in the long run if implemented correctly and effectively.

We keep on shouting out loud on tourist arrivals by the numbers and we know tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry where almost in every 12 jobs there is a tourism job. We should at least invest more now in tourism in terms of development not physical development but talents to bring tourism further.

Tourism is one of the National Key Economic Area (NKEA) and they only address issues and had plans for the projects here and there while destinations development is most of it.

I personally think incentives should be given to SMEs who is with brilliant ideas to bring Malaysia’s tourism up further and also the boost to grow the talents needed for the growth of the industry.