KUALA LUMPUR: The haze, which has been shrouding Malaysia since a week ago, does not affect the country’s tourism sector, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said yesterday.
He said there was no drop in tourist arrival and tourists arriving in Malaysia were able to carry out their activities as planned.
He also said there were still some places in the country, like Sabah and Sarawak, which were not affected by the haze.
“Malaysia is not a small island like Singapore, which is also affected by the (haze) problem.
“If the southern part of our country is shrouded with haze, tourists can go to other places where the air quality is good,” he told reporters at the Wedding promotion festival at the Handicraft Complex here yesterday.
Also present were Tourism and Culture Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Ong Hong Peng, Kraftangan Malaysia chairman Datuk Sohaimi Shahadan and its director-general, Mohd Kamil Mohd Ali.
In view of the haze, Mohamed Nazri advised tourists to wear masks for health precaution.
A state of emergency was declared in Muar on Sunday, when the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading soared to 746.
The situation has improved today with the API reading at 132 as of 11am, from 148 earlier.
The air pollution level is categorised as hazardous when the reading is 301 or more; very unhealthy at 201 to 300; unhealthy at 101 to 200; moderate at 51 to 100 and good at zero to 50.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Nazri said the Tourism and Culture Ministry was targetting a collection of RM12 million, from RM11 million last year, from the wedding promotion, held since June 19 until July 1. He such by holding such a promotion, it could encourage the people to use local products for their wedding preparations. — Bernama