Country’s current turmoil in curbing the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the tourism industry nationwide, if not worldwide. The Corona Virus Disease was given the official name of ”Covid-19” by World Health Organization (WHO) on February 11th before the renowned organization declared it as a “pandemic” a month later on March 11th.
The worrisome health situation is given a significant weightage by the Selangor State Government when it on March 7th urged all event organisers to consider cancelling or postponing large-scaled events which were to be held across the State, following the second wave of the Corona Virus spread. A day preceding the “pandemic’” declaration, Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor on March 12th announced all non-critical large-scaled events in Selangor have to be postponed with immediate effects following the advice of the Ministry of Health Malaysia.
Following Y.A.B Perdana Menteri Malaysia, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s Movement Control Order announcement on March 16th, an urgent Meeting was held involving Selangor’s Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri (SUK) offices to discuss on the measures to be taken to execute the said Order in the State. Right after the meeting, Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, Dato’ Menteri Besar Selangor announced all official matters with the SUK, Menteri Besar, EXCO, Land and District offices and Selangor’s local authorities will only be available online through official websites, emails or WhatsApp Messanger. Hence, following the Order, Tourism Selangor’s HQ Office and tourism products managed by the Tourism Promotion Board; Taman Eko Rimba Chongkak Park and Resort and Taman Eko Rimba Kanching will be closed from March 18th to April 14th. The operation of the Royal Klang Heritage Walk Tour programme will also be resumed only on April 15th onwards.
This clearly shows the commitment placed by Tourism Selangor in ensuring all Federal Government’s policies, rules, and regulations are followed with duly care and attention. The closure of the eco-tourism products was also carried out to ensure Selangor citizens to oblige to the Order and keep staying at home if there are no critical necessities involved.
Despite the significant impact the spread of Covid-19 has brought upon to the tourism industry which urged the cancelation of the Visit Malaysia Year 2020 Campaign as announced by Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) on March 18th, Tourism Selangor strives to place its full commitment in carrying out most of its planned tourism initiatives for 2020.
The determination still faced some bumpy roads as some of the State’s major events have been postponed, if not cancelled. For example, the Malaysia Women Marathon 2020, Asian Golf Tourism Convention and Wings of KKB 2020 which were supposed to be held on March 8th, March 30th to April 4th, and April 1st respectively, were cancelled to curb the spread of the pandemic. Meanwhile, the TMM2020 Grand Retromania Gathering 2020 which is supposed to be held on April 1st to 12th is postponed to a later date which will be later announced, and all of the tourism events planned for execution in May onwards will take place as planned.
Some of the events are the King of Kampung Kemensah on June 21st, 44th Bon Odori Festival 2020 on July 18th, Selangor International Indigenous Arts Festival 2020 on August 8th and 9th, Rentak Selangor International on October 3rd, 31st Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta on November 11th to 21st and Selangor Cruise Festival 2020 on November 28th and 29th.
On a larger scale, the pandemic has deterred international Conventions and Travel Fairs execution plans, taking example the last-minute cancellation of ITB Berlin 2020 that was supposed to be held on early of March. The delegation from Selangor still made their way to Berlin, Germany in full determination as all of the travel arrangements have been made prior. The trip was turned into a proactive “Sales Mission” which successfully attracted Berlin-based media, as well as PR and Travel and Tour agencies.
Other international Conventions and Travel Fairs such as ATM Dubai 2020 is postponed to the month of June, while SeaTrade Miami 2020 is postponed to a later date. To fill the loophole left by the cancellation of international Travel Conventions, Tourism Selangor has given more weightage onto the domestic market.
Domestic approaches such as the Jelajah Persona Selangor, Squad Kembara Sekolah dan FAM Trip Programmes with the media and Travel and Tour agencies are put on hold until Country’s health situation improves. On a bright side, Tourism Selangor’s advertising initiatives will not be affected. Digital and Stand-still Billboards and e-Buntings are placed across the country including strategic places in Selangor, Kedah, Penang, Johor, Terengganu and Malacca.
Tourism Selangor takes the opportunity arising from the current situation to revisit, with the intent to enhance, all of the promotional initiates set for 2020 while having ample time to plan and execute the official Visit Selangor Year 2021 Campaign including Campaign’s branding, early promotions tailing from 2020 and the development and enhancement of the infrastructures at Selangor’s tourism attractions.
The Tourism Promotion Board will also collaborate and cooperate with key industry players such hotel and accommodation operators, Travel and Tour agencies and NGOs such as the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel agents (MATTA), Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) dan Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (MITA). These smart partnerships will pave the way for tourism operators in Selangor to market their products to domestic and international travel markets.
Tourism Selangor’s promotional initiatives on digital and online platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter dan Weibo will be carried out as usual and on a competitive pace. Tourism Selangor has also recently launched its brand-new and revamped website Selangor.travel which boasts a smooth user interface and comprehensive travel content.
It is hoped, with Tourism Selangor’s positive momentum and determined focus in executing all of its planned tourism initiatives despite some challenges this year, the State Government’s target of welcoming a total of 8 million tourists to the State in 2020 will be realised, and there are 9 more months left to draw the numbers in.
For more information on Selangor’s tourism attractions whist being responsible citizens by obliging to the Movement Control Order, log on to Tourism Selangor’s brand-new website Selangor.travel from the comfort and convenience of your home.
