KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 — The Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry (Motac) will conduct a review of the Tourism Industry Act (AIP) 1992 (Act 482), said its Deputy Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan.
It will hold discussions with industry stakeholders to gather feedback before making any final decisions.
“Motac is committed to consulting with and receiving feedback from industry players,” he said in response to Temerloh MP Salamiah Mohd Nor’s query during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
She had asked if Motac would consider revising or repealing Section 6(1)(i)(iii) of the AIP 1992, which mandates that a tour guide accompany every tour bus, adding that this requirement burdens domestic tour bus operators who cater to small-scale, local tourists rather than international visitors.
Khairul said the AIP regulations are designed to support the local tourism ecosystem, addressing the needs of tour operators, tour guides, tourism training institutions, tourism vehicles, and the registration and classification of tourist accommodation facilities.
Motac provides flexibility by allowing tour bus operators to apply for exemptions from the tour guide requirement in specific cases, provided they meet certain criteria.
In response to a separate question from Masjid Tanah MP Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin on Motac’s preparations for Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2026, he said the ministry intends to leverage Malaysia’s Asean chairmanship next year to promote the VMY 2026 campaign.
“As host of the Asean Tourism Forum, Malaysia will seize this opportunity to showcase our tourism offerings to Asean member nations, aiming to attract more visitors from the region in 2026,” Khairul said.
— Bernama
