Reply to "Shortcomings at entry points" NST 8 Feb 2010
Ref : KPL/UKK 785-3Date : 12 February 2010
The Editor,
New Straits Times
31, Jalan Riong
59100 Kuala Lumpur
Dear Sir,
We would like to refer to the letter "Shortcomings at entry points" by Rejal Arbee published by NST, Monday 8 February 2010. The Ministry of Tourism would like to convey our sincere appreciation to Rejal Arbee for his concern on tourist arrivals via the causeway.
We would like to clarify that the entry of foreigners to Malaysia is recorded by the Immigration Department of Malaysia via the Malaysian Immigration System (SIM). SIM also differentiates between tourist and excursionist based on the definition by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
According to UNWTO, tourists are people who "travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for more than 24 hours and not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited". On the other hand, excursionists are temporary visitors staying less than 24 hrs.
Based on these UNWTO definitions, the SIM classify tourists and excursionists accordingly. As such, excursionists from Singapore who visited Malaysia, particularly Johor, for less than 24 hours are not included in the total tourist arrivals to Malaysia.
In 2009, tourists from Singapore constituted 53.8 per cent of the total tourist arrivals to Malaysia and not 70 per cent as claimed. In 2009, Malaysia received a total of 23.6 million foreign tourists. In the same year, the country recorded 7.8 million excursionists (source: Malaysia Immigration Department). Malaysia welcomes genuine visitors and it is the policy objective to achieve more repeat visitors as well.
The safety and security of tourists and citizens alike cannot be compromised. In this regard, the Ministry of Tourism did not in any instance impose any requirement for immigration officers to check a visitor's passport on arrival within 30 seconds.
The Ministry of Tourism would like to acknowledge the strong support and collaboration given by the relevant stakeholders such as Immigration Department, Royal Malaysian Police, industry associations, NGOs and the private sector to ensure that visitors feel safe and have a memorable stay in Malaysia.
"1MALAYSIA" RAKYAT DIDAHULUKAN, PENCAPAIAN DIUTAMAKAN
"CUTI-CUTI 1MALAYSIA"
DATO' DR ONG HONG PENG
Secretary-General
Ministry of Tourism, Malaysia
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