Cooperatives are encouraged to explore opportunities in tourism and its downstream activities that have the potential to increase the income of the movement.

Malaysian Cooperative Commission executive chairman Datuk Nordin Salleh said the downstream tourism and activities sector, especially in rural areas, was rich in natural resources that provided employment opportunities for the people and economic growth.

According to him, the tourism industry is small and can be accommodated by small and micro-enterprises.

“Most of the rural areas are rich in natural resources that can be used to generate local cooperative economies.

"The sector can also create new business opportunities as well as provide employment to the locals while making the cooperatives more competitive in generating the economy," he said after opening the De Bleu Hotel of Langkawi Berhad District Development Cooperation (KPDL) today.

Hotel De Bleu has been open since November 2018 offering 44 guest rooms with investments of RM4.3 million with construction costs of RM1.9 million and renovation costs of RM2,382,415.

Nordin said it is one of 82 cooperative hotel chains nationwide.

“I hope KPDL's success in developing the hotel has inspired other cooperatives to venture into the same field. This is because as of September 30, the tourism, personal care, and health sectors contributed RM211.98 million to cooperative revenue, ”he said.

At the same event, the Cooperative Commission also provided development assistance to three cooperatives in Langkawi district involved in tourism activities totaling RM600,000 namely Langkawi Berhad District Development Cooperation (RM50,000), Tuba Islands Community Cooperative and Straits Berhad (RM300,000) and the Community Cooperative Village of Kilim Langkawi Berhad (RM250,000).

Also handed over was an RM2 million revolving Capital Fund (TMP-JPK) loan to Kedah State Government Officers' Cooperative Darul Aman Berhad.

As of October 31, 2019, the government through the Cooperative Commission has provided development assistance to 83 cooperatives totaling RM3.77 million. For TMP-JPK loans, loans amounted to RM55.08 million benefiting 38 cooperatives