KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 -- The 2021 Budget which will be tabled on Friday is expected to help revive the tourism, arts and culture sector, besides providing an impetus for national economic development planning.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the budget was also expected to provide an opportunity for the ministry to assist industry players under it to remain strong, thus supporting the country's economic recovery in the future.

“The Ministry is confident that the tourism, arts and culture sectors are ready and will be prime movers for overall economic development.

“This is a huge economic chain, across various economic segments involving aspects of accommodation, land, sea and air transport, food and beverage, travel agencies, cultural art heritage assets as well as event management,” he said in a statement today.

He said in ensuring the sector continued to grow, the ministry would intensify efforts to increase the use of technology and innovation in boosting the tourism, arts and culture industries.

“It can be done by developing a public data centre to assist in the marketing and promotion of products and services related to tourism, arts, culture and heritage," she said in a statement today.

Nancy said tourism infrastructure facilities, outreach, upskilling and reskilling programmes would also be given priority by the ministry, apart from diversifying products in the industry.

“The ministry will enhance cooperation with all government agencies at the federal and state levels as well as industry players, to achieve the goal of making Malaysia a sustainable and culturally rich tourist destination,” she said.

-- BERNAMA