MOTAC Appreciates Allocation in 2021 Budget for Tourism, Arts and Culture Sectors
  1. RM50 million for training and relocation programs for 8,000 employees from airlines in Malaysia;
  2. Employment opportunities for 500 people from the local community and Orang Asli as tourist guides in all national parks to boost eco-tourism;
  3. RM50 million has been provided for maintenance and repair works on tourism facilities throughout the country;
  4. RM20 million has also been allocated to improve infrastructure and intensify the promotion of Cultural Villages in Terengganu, Melaka, Sarawak and Negeri Sembilan;
  5. RM10 million ringgit has been allocated to ensure that national heritage buildings such as the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Carcosa Seri Negara will also continue to be preserved and become tourism icons;
  6. RM35 million to the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council to enhance the competitiveness of the local healthcare tourism industry. The government will also extend income tax exemption for exports of private healthcare services until 2022;
  7. RM1,000 under the Additional Prihatin Special Grant will be given to traders and hawkers in Sabah. This special grant will also be given to taxi, e-hailing, rental car and tour guide drivers in Sabah;
  8. HRDF fund levy exemption will be granted for six months effective 1 January 2021 to help ease the cash flow burden of companies that are still affected. The exemption will cover the tourism sector and companies affected by COVID-19; and
  9. RM150 million has been allocated for the Shop Malaysia Online initiative through a partnership with major e-commerce platforms to encourage online spending which will benefit 500,000 local entrepreneurs including halal product and handicraft entrepreneurs.