GEORGE TOWN: The Finance Ministry will meet with all parties in the tourism sector to discuss the impact of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak on the industry.
Its minister, Lim Guan Eng, said the meeting will be held on Monday.
"I will meet with everyone involved in the tourism sector. We will discuss the matter.
"And after (the result of the discussion is) presented in Cabinet, we will make an announcement," he said here, today.
Lim was met after the official handover ceremony of Sekolah Suria's new school building by the Penang government to the Penang Welfare Association of Mentally Retarded Children at Sungai Ara here.
Present was Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Lim was asked about concerns raised by the tourism sector over the risk of the virus spreading.
On Friday, he had downplayed claims that Malaysia could face an economic downturn, saying that the government will initiate a stimulus package to boost growth.
"That is why we are bringing the economic stimulus package forward," he added.
Asked if the economic stimulus package would be channelled towards certain sectors or all industries affected by the epidemic, Lim called for calm.
"Wait until we are able to announce details of the economic stimulus package," he added.
On Tuesday, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Mohammadin Ketapi said that the ministry will restructure its Visit Malaysia Year 2020 (VM2020) campaign by focusing on new countries as sources of tourists, as China is effectively under lockdown over the coronavirus.
He also said that Malaysians, especially those working in the tourism sector, have expressed worry over the risk of infection from tourists.
The outbreak, centred in Wuhan, China, has resulted in a sudden drop of visitors from the country. Tourists from China made up 11 per cent of total arrivals to Malaysia in recent years.
Among countries that will be focussed upon for VM2020 are those in Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, and Australia and Russia.
Earlier in his speech, Lim said that he was proud to be part of the handover ceremony, in which the school was gifted to the Penang Welfare Association, adding that the 0.54ha land valued at RM18 million (RM20 million recently) was granted by the state government during his tenure as chief minister.
Construction of the two-storey school building was completed by the Ideal Property Group. The school building itself cost RM10 million and has 20 rooms which will be used as classrooms, a gym, a kitchen, a music room, a snoezelen or multi-sensory room and teachers’ rooms. There is also an open playground and a multi-purpose hall.