Former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has called for greater focus on the tourism sector amid the ringgit’s decline.

Speaking in the Dewan Rakyat, Ismail (BN-Bera) said tourism could spark a shift to a services-oriented economy and not be treated merely as a saviour during times of financial crisis.

“This requires strategies that specifically focus on the sector’s sustainability.”

Ismail cited the national tourism drive after the Asian Financial Crisis in 1998 that allowed the sector to develop quickly through various government initiatives.

Ismail said the government’s aggressive implementation of its Malaysia Truly Asia campaign in 1999 led to the number of tourist arrivals that year rising to 7.9 million from 5.6 million in 1998 — a growth of 42.9%.

“The situation today is almost the same. The ringgit is falling, despite a lack of a crisis like the one we faced in 1998.

“Although the value of the ringgit has declined, negatively impacting imported products, it is also making Malaysia a cheaper destination for tourists.

“This gives Malaysia the opportunity to become a primary tourism destination.”

Ismail said Malaysia could become a “shopping heaven”, claiming for example that golf products here are 25% cheaper than in Shanghai, China.

“That’s how big the difference is. Branded products are so much cheaper here compared with other countries.

“Tourists from the UK only need to spend 100 pounds, or RM600, to enjoy a stay at a five-star hotel here.”