13/11/2023
We must acknowledge that STRA is not a niche industry. It is now an increasingly important driver of the broader Malaysian tourism sector. From an economic perspective, STRA activities support numerous tourism-adjacent businesses in local economies (such as cafes, restaurants, and tourism services), and open up new destinations in Malaysia to tourists without the need for significant investment.
Ultimately, a balanced regulatory approach with collaboration between the government, STRA platforms, and the wider tourism industry will only stand to benefit all stakeholders. To put this into practice, the government could consider the formation of an industry-government working group on STRA, and initiate discussions on a code of conduct framework for STRA. Success for the tourism industry lies in co-existence, not exclusion, as we work towards fostering a robust and diverse tourism industry.
This year, we saw the wider Asean tourism ecosystem take bold efforts to make a post-Covid comeback. In Malaysia, we witnessed the government issue a digital nomad visa and put emphasis on cultural and heritage tourism in the recent Budget 2024 announcement. These efforts will improve Malaysia’s a...
