While the Corona virus (COVID-19) pandemic may have crippled tourism activities in Malaysia, Malaysians are starting to travel domestically especially since overseas travel is still not opened to general Malaysians. According to Dato’ Edros, local travellers have rushed to book hill resorts, beach resorts, and island resorts. A study done by MOTAC shows that locals especially those that live in the city prefer to get away from the city. Their preferred destinations are hill resorts, beaches, and islands.

Although the previous targets for Visit Malaysia Year 2020 has been put aside due to the pandemic, it is a good thing that locals are travelling domestically. Locals that used to travel overseas to Europe, Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, etc. have the money to travel. But because of the pandemic, they are not allowed to do so. Hence, they travel locally. This helps drive up the tourism sector here in Malaysia. 

Following the launch was an appreciation ceremony for the tourism players of Cameron Highlands of which includes BOH Tea Plantations, KEA Farm, Fragrance Nursery, Cactus Point, Ee Feng Gu Honey Bee Farm, Mossy Forest, and S’ Corner; as well as ASEAN Publisher, and Santai Travel Magazine.

Together at the launch were En Hafiz Hazin, Director Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MOTAC) Eastern Region Office, Datuk Ishak Mokhtar, General Manager Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board (MOTAC), Mr Patrick Tee, General Manager Copthorne Cameron Highlands, various tourism players in Cameron Highlands, and members of the media.