SHAH ALAM, 19 Aug: Allegations that the devaluation of the ringgit is benefiting the tourism sector is not true, said the Exco for Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment, Elizabeth Wong.
Based on records of foreign tourists visiting a country, she said that their decisions depend on tourism trends, promotion and safety.
“The hypothesis that the weak ringgit benefits and attracts more tourists is not true.
“Singapore has the highest foreign tourists that come to Malaysia with an increase of 5.7 percent (2013-2014) with the Singapore Dollar increasing 1.5 percent compared to the Malaysian Ringgit.
“Brunei at third recorded an increase of 1.5 percent of its currency but their performance in tourist arrivals decreased by 2.1 percent during the same period,” she said.
She said this when answering a verbal question by Lai Nyuk Lan (DAP-Sungai Pelek) about the development of the tourism sector in Selangor at the 13th Selangor State Assembly (DNS) session today.
On August 11, the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, said that the depreciation of the ringgit to RM4 to one US Dollar is good for the tourism industry.
In fact, Elizabeth said that the depreciation of the ringgit is affecting operation costs because the sector is related to imported goods.
“If they need imported goods from sources dominated by the US Dollar, operations and management will increase.
“It is coupled with the introduction of the goods and services tax (GST),” she said.
NS
